Integrating AI in Modern Practices: Insights from The Pythia Project Workshop

In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries and daily life, The Pythia Project stands as a beacon of innovation and practical application. This was vividly demonstrated in a workshop held last Thursday in Athens, Greece, which attracted over 250 attendees. The event not only showcased the latest developments in AI but also emphasized its increasingly pivotal role in sectors ranging from public administration to tourism.

The workshop aimed to foster a constructive dialogue about emerging trends in AI, with a special focus on advancements in digital assistants (chatbots). It also served as a platform to present the findings and achievements of The Pythia Project, particularly in enhancing the functionality and communication efficiency of chatbots.

In its final stages of conclusion, The Pythia Project’s primary objective is to significantly elevate chatbot capabilities, focusing on enhancing user interaction quality and service levels. This involves developing specialized infrastructure tailored to understand the Greek language, a critical step in broadening AI’s applicability and impact.

Attendees from various professional backgrounds, including public and private sector executives, academic experts, and institutional representatives, gathered to explore the practical applications of AI in service innovation.

A standout session was on the transformative application of chatbot technology in the tourism sector. Maria Theofanopoulou, CEO of Greek Travel Pages, presented an innovative approach to communicating complex data about Greek ferry routes through AI-driven chatbots. This implementation exemplifies how AI can revolutionize the tourist experience by providing timely, efficient, and user-friendly access to travel information. Theofanopoulou stated, “Integrating AI-driven chatbots, GTP is at the forefront of providing streamlined, user-friendly services to travelers, thus significantly contributing to the growth and dynamism of Greek tourism.”

George Karamanolis, Crowdpolicy

Yannis Charalambides, University of the Aegean

Ioannis Malandrakis, Mayor of Platanias Chania

Eleni Petra, EC “Athena” Research Center

Haris Alexopoulos, University of the Aegean

Georgia Zevgaropoulou, National Bank of Greece

Maria Theofanopoulou, Greek Travel Pages

Yannis Georgoulakis, Softone

Marianthi Psoma, General Secretariat of Information Systems & Digital Governance

Yannis Diamantopoulos, General Secretariat of Information Systems & Digital Governance

The workshop featured insights from several AI experts and leaders. George Karamanolis, Co-founder and CTO/CIO of Crowdpolicy, opened the seminar. His insights into AI, emerging trends, and Crowdpolicy’s journey in pioneering Intelligent Chatbots set the tone for an informative and forward-looking discussion.

Highlighting practical applications, the Mayor of Platanias Chania, Ioannis Malandrakis, emphasized the transformative impact of the municipality’s Automatic Digital Assistant, a pioneering chatbot initiative in Greek municipalities, on citizen engagement and communication.

Eleni Petra from the EC “Athena” Research Center, and Haris Alexopoulos of the University of the Aegean, further elaborated on the critical role of AI in innovation and societal advancement. Their presentations underscored the growing relevance of digital service assistants in public and private sectors.

Ph.D. candidates Nikolaos Yarelis and Elias Siachos from the University of Patras expanded on AI’s potential as a catalyst for growth across various societal and economic domains.

The workshop also featured presentations from key figures involved in the Pythia Project pilots, including Marianthi Psoma and Yannis Diamantopoulos from General Secretariat of Information Systems & Digital Governance, Yannis Georgoulakis from Softone, and Georgia Zevgaropoulou from National Bank of Greece’s Digital Transformation Division.

The Project

The project is coordinated by the University of the Aegean and sees the collaboration of seven parties: two research organizations (University of the Aegean, University of Patras), four companies (SoftOne Technologies AE, Crowdpolicy, National Bank of Greece, Greek Travel Pages) and a public organization (General Secretariat of Information Systems).

The Pythia Project, code T2ΔK – 01921, is part of the “RESEARCH – CREATE – INNOVATE” initiative, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and national resources through the Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Programme (EPANEK).

For more information, visit The Pythia Project website.