Cyprus deputy minister: AI should empower people, not replace them
Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, said during a lecture at the University of Cyprus that artificial intelligence should be seen as an opportunity rather than an inherent threat. In his view, the greater risk lies in the misuse of the technology and in people’s decisions regarding its deployment, Cyprus Mail reports.
Damianou rejected assumptions that AI will inevitably become powerful enough to subjugate humanity. He stressed that technology in itself is neither an ally nor an enemy: its impact depends on the purpose for which systems are created, the rules governing their use, and keeping humans at the center of decision-making.
Cyprus’ strategy through 2032
The official said that the public consultation on Cyprus’ new National AI Strategy through 2032 has concluded, and the document is at the final stage of preparation. The strategy aims to make Cyprus a leading trusted AI hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, a European jurisdiction for services in this field, and a bridge between the EU and neighboring regions.
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According to Damianou, compliance with European rules should be a minimum requirement, while a competitive advantage should be the rapid testing, certification, and deployment of AI systems provided that appropriate infrastructure is available. He mentioned regulatory sandboxes, AI testing facilities, and high-performance computing infrastructure being developed in cooperation with NVIDIA, G-Cloud, and Pharos-CY.
Right to human review
Among the strategy’s priorities, Damianou named improving public-sector productivity and the use of AI in financial services, healthcare and life sciences, tourism, legal services, and shipping. He identified education and skills, innovation, and entrepreneurship as horizontal areas.
Damianou said that AI should enhance people’s capabilities rather than replace them. In his view, in systems used in medicine, employment, financial decisions, or social benefits, citizens should have the right to receive an explanation, challenge a decision, and obtain human review. He warned students that AI can write an assignment but cannot replace independent thinking.
