George Petasis and George Giannakopoulos have spent their lives working on artificial intelligence systems. Additionally, they are the people who trained two generative AI models just for us to have a live chat with on stage, for the SNF Dialogues “Humanity-AI Symbiosis” event during the SNF Nostos 2021. In fact, someone could say that we tried to do then what the entire world is trying to do today with ChatGPT. Two years later, the frenzy over the capabilities and risks of AI development and its incursion into our daily lives is more relevant than ever. Therefore, we called on George Petasis and George Giannakopoulos, to unpack what is going on with ChatGPT and AI today.
In a discussion with Phoebe Fronista, they explain how ChatGPT systems reflect humanity, what ethical and legal issues arise, as well as their need to be democratized and openly accessible to all. 
//
Ο Γιώργος Πετάσης και ο Γιώργος Γιαννακόπουλος έχουν αφιερώσει τη ζωή τους στη μελέτη συστημάτων τεχνητής νοημοσύνης. Επιπλέον, είναι οι άνθρωποι που εκπαίδευσαν μόνο δύο παραγωγικά μοντέλα τεχνητής νοημοσύνης το 2021, με τα οποία συνομιλήσαμε ζωντανά επί σκηνής κατά τη διάρκεια των Διαλόγων του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος με θέμα «Ανθρωπότητα – Τεχνητή Νοημοσύνη: Η συμβίωση», που έλαβαν χώρα κατά τη διάρκεια του SNF Nostos 2021. Στην πραγματικότητα, θα μπορούσε κανείς να ισχυριστεί ότι δημιουργήσαμε μία πρόωρη έκδοση του ChatGPT πριν το ChatGPT. 
Δύο χρόνια μετά, η φρενίτιδα για τις δυνατότητες και τους κινδύνους της τεχνητής νοημοσύνης, καθώς και για την εισβολή της στην καθημερινή μας ζωή είναι πιο επίκαιρη από ποτέ. Για αυτούς τους λόγους, απευθυνθήκαμε και πάλι στον Γιώργο Πετάση και τον Γιώργο Γιαννακόπουλο, για να μας εξηγήσουν γιατί είναι σημαντικό να ξεκινήσει μια δημόσια συζήτηση για τα μοντέλα τύπου ChatGPT και την τεχνητή νοημοσύνη στις μέρες μας.
Σε μία συζήτηση με τη Φοίβη Φρονίστα, μας εξηγούν πώς το ChatGPT αντικατοπτρίζει την ανθρωπότητα, ποια είναι τα ηθικά και νομικά ζητήματα που ανακύπτουν, καθώς και την ανάγκη αυτών των συστημάτων να εκδημοκρατιστούν και να είναι προσβάσιμα σε όλους. 
//
*The opinions expressed by Dialogues participants, whether representing officially institutions and organizations or themselves, on events, articles, or other audiovisual media are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from the team.
//
*Οι απόψεις των συμμετεχόντων στις συζητήσεις Διάλογοι, είτε αυτοί συμμετέχουν ως εκπρόσωποι θεσμικών φορέων και οργανισμών είτε αυτοπροσώπως, σε αρθρογραφία ή άλλα οπτικοακουστικά μέσα εκφέρονται ελεύθερα, χωρίς πρότερη παρέμβαση ή υπόδειξη, εκφράζοντας την προσωπική τους γνώμη, κάθε φορά, αλλά όχι απαραίτητα τις θέσεις και τις απόψεις είτε του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος (ΙΣΝ) είτε του iMEdD.

ChatGPT: Demystifying the AI fever / with George Petasis and George Giannakopoulos (ENG)

Σε μια εποχή όπου οι έκτακτες ειδήσεις για κρίσεις, από την κλιματική αλλαγή έως τις πολιτικές εξελίξεις, είναι αδιάκοπες, η συνεχής ροή πληροφοριών από διάφορες πηγές παραδόξως μας αφοπλίζει παρά μας ενεργοποιεί. Αυτή η αδιάλειπτη ροή ειδήσεων προκαλεί σε πολλούς πολίτες το αίσθημα της υπερφόρτωσης και της αδυναμίας επεξεργασίας των πληροφοριών. Ως αποτέλεσμα, διακυβεύεται η ικανότητά τους να αξιολογούν καταστάσεις, να λαμβάνουν τεκμηριωμένες αποφάσεις και να συμμετέχουν ενεργά στη συλλογική λήψη αποφάσεων.
Οι ειδήσεις μετατρέπονται σε θέαμα και οι πολίτες γίνονται θεατές, γεγονός που εγείρει ανησυχίες σχετικά με τον αντίκτυπο στη δημοκρατική συμμετοχή. Οι Διάλογοι του ΙΣΝ, τους οποίους επιμελείται και συντονίζει η Άννα-Κύνθια Μπουσδούκου (Διευθύνουσα Σύμβουλος του iMEdD, Εκτελεστική Διευθύντρια «ΙΣΝ Διάλογοι» και δημοσιογράφος), θα πραγματοποιηθούν μία ημέρα πριν από την επίσημη έναρξη του Διεθνούς Forum Δημοσιογραφίας του iMEdD για να θίξουν τα παραπάνω ζητήματα. Στη συζήτηση θα συμμετάσχουν η Δρ Laurie Ouellette, καθηγήτρια Μέσων Μαζικής Ενημέρωσης και Πολιτισμικών Σπουδών στο Πανεπιστήμιο της Μινεσότα, ο Δρ Darren Lilleker, καθηγητής Πολιτικής Επικοινωνίας στο Πανεπιστήμιο του Bournemouth, και ο Timothy Shaffer, Πρόεδρος του SNF Civil Discourse, για να διερευνήσουν θέματα που αφορούν τόσο τη δημοσιογραφία όσο και τους ίδιους τους πολίτες.
Οι Διάλογοι υλοποιούνται με τη δημοσιογραφική επιμέλεια του μη κερδοσκοπικού δημοσιογραφικού οργανισμού iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development).
*Οι απόψεις των συμμετεχόντων στις συζητήσεις Διάλογοι, είτε αυτοί συμμετέχουν ως εκπρόσωποι θεσμικών φορέων και οργανισμών είτε αυτοπροσώπως, σε αρθρογραφία ή άλλα οπτικοακουστικά μέσα εκφέρονται ελεύθερα, χωρίς πρότερη παρέμβαση ή υπόδειξη, εκφράζοντας την προσωπική τους γνώμη, κάθε φορά, αλλά όχι απαραίτητα τις θέσεις και τις απόψεις είτε του Ιδρύματος Σταύρος Νιάρχος (ΙΣΝ) είτε του iMEdD.

Τηλεθεατές Ή Πολίτες;

Τρεις Έλληνες επιζήσαντες του HIV και ένας γιατρός μοιράζονται τις ιστορίες τους σχετικά με τη ζωή τους στις σκοτεινές μέρες της επιδημίας του HIV/AIDS πριν από τη διάθεση των αντιρετροϊκών φαρμάκων.


AIDS in 1980s Greece: An audio documentary

Three Greek long-term survivors of HIV and one doctor share their stories about living through the dark days of the HIV/ AIDS epidemic before anti-retroviral medication became available.

To AIDS στην Ελλάδα τη δεκαετία του 1980: Ένα ηχητικό ντοκιμαντέρ

What are the prospects and implications of space travel and how will it affect us all? The SNF Dialogues discuss with Dr. Tanya Harrison, planetary scientist, and Mars expert, seeking answers to the above questions. 

Στο άπειρο κι ακόμα παραπέρα: Ταξίδι στο Διάστημα, Άρης και Ηθική

Ποιες είναι οι προοπτικές και οι επιπτώσεις των ταξιδιών στο διάστημα και πώς θα μας επηρεάσουν; Οι Διάλογοι του ΙΣΝ συζητούν με την Δρ. Tanya Harrison, πλανητολόγο και ειδικό στον Άρη, αναζητώντας απαντήσεις στα παραπάνω ερωτήματα.

To infinity and beyond: Space Travel, Mars and Ethics

While many of us associate libraries with brick-and-mortar buildings in our neighborhoods, there exists a remarkable world of mobile public libraries that extend their reach to remote rural areas, transcending geographical boundaries and socioeconomic disparities. In this episode, we venture from Colombia to Northern Greece, uncovering the stories of mobile public libraries that are transforming the communities they visit. These mobile libraries not only bring books, but also foster learning opportunities, bridging gaps and enriching lives regardless of location or background.

Episode 1: Around the world in libraries

In the second episode, we delve into the evolution of libraries, tracing their journey from exclusive sanctuaries for the elite to commonly managed spaces shaped by and for a group of citizens—the emergence of what is often referred to as the "commons."  Confronting the constraints of class, gender, and racial divides of the past, libraries are now viewed in their role as centers for community engagement. They serve as catalysts for societal transformation, fostering community-building, and offering avenues for emancipation and democracy even in the face of societal upheaval.

Episode 2: Palaces for the elites - spaces of revolt

In the third episode, we turn our attention to the archival material housed within libraries, delving into their multiple roles—from manipulation of historical narratives to their power as instruments of activism. Additionally, we shed light on the role of digitization in ensuring the accessibility and longevity of these archives, alongside innovative approaches to managing vast amounts of data. To bridge the ancient wisdom of the legendary Library of Alexandria with its contemporary relevance, SNF Dialogues engages in a conversation with the director of the current library.

Episode 3: From the love of reading to the archives of the universe

Description: In the concluding episode, SNF Dialogues brings into focus the relationship between libraries and their urban environments, exploring how these institutions integrate into the fabric of their surroundings, often transforming into vibrant public spaces themselves. We examine two notable examples—the New York Public Library and the Library Network in Milan—that have transformed into inclusive, open public spaces, welcoming to all.

Episode 4: Libraries and the new public space

The SNF Dialogues  hosted a public speaking event that underscores libraries’ vital role in promoting civic engagement and strengthening democracy, scheduled for April 30th at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library in New York.

The discussion was moderated by Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou, Managing Director of the SNF Dialogues, and the main speakers were Dr. Tony W. Marx, President and CEO of the New York Public Library (NYPL), and Dr. Ares Kalandides, Urban scholar and Academic Advisor at New York University, Berlin. An intervention was made by the architect of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL), Francine Houben, Founding Partner and Creative Director of the Netherlands-based firm Mecanoo. Additionally, Ricci Yuhico, Managing Librarian for Young Adult Services at SNFL, and Kaelin Motsoasele (they/them), student and library page in the flagship Teen Center in the NYPL, shed light on the services the library provides to teenagers and young adults.  Last but not least, Kathleen Carrasco, Borough Director at the Bronx Neighborhood Library Networks in the NYPL, talked about the valuable contribution of the library to the local community.

The opinions expressed by SNF Dialogues participants, whether officially representing institutions or organizations, or themselves alone, at events, in articles, or in other audiovisual media are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from SNF. The factual accuracy of statements made by participants not employed by SNF or its affiliates is solely the responsibility of the participants or the institutions or organizations they represent.

Beyond Books: How libraries can serve the public

On May 29, 2024, SNF Dialogues, in collaboration with the University of Delaware, hosted a public dialogue at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Delaware, on the impact of political marketing and the commodification of politics in democracy. SNF Dialogues featured two panel discussions—one from an academic perspective and another on the professional practice of political marketing—as well as a keynote address by Valerie Biden Owens, the first woman in the United States to have managed a presidential campaign.

Consumers Or Citizens

History is marked by constant change, and the history of global democracy is no exception. While governing institutions and leaders have not always embraced democratic values, universities have in many ways endured as places of free expression and exchange of ideas. In this way, they are more than educational institutions: they are havens for freedom and the pursuit of knowledge, offering a foothold for societies striving to grow and improve. 

Yet, despite their enduring strengths, universities are facing significant challenges in today’s divisive climate. How can we ensure that they continue to fulfill their crucial role in promoting and safeguarding democratic values and inspiring democratic change? 



The SNF Dialogues opens this vital discussion with experts on these questions but also, most importantly, students themselves, exploring how to ensure that universities meet the moment and do their part to carry the torch of democracy forward.



The panel features distinguished professors Irene Mulvey, AAUP Immediate Past President and Professor Emerita of Mathematics at Fairfield University, John Holmwood, Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Nottingham, John Tomasi, President of the Heterodox Academy, and Hahrie Han, Inaugural Director of the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University,.

Students participating in the discussion include April Anthony,  SNF Ithaca student leader at the University of Delaware, Faith Applegate, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania, Anna Oakes, multimedia journalist and graduate student at the Columbia Journalism School, and Luke McDermott, External Vice President at the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska and Chairman of the Husker Vote Coalition. The President of Johns Hopkins University, Ron Daniels, will also make an intervention during the discussion.  

*The opinions expressed by SNF Dialogues participants, whether officially representing institutions or organizations, or themselves alone, at events, in articles, or in other audiovisual media are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from SNF. The factual accuracy of statements made by participants not employed by SNF or its affiliates is solely the responsibility of the participants or the institutions or organizations they represent.

The Role of Universities in Modern Democracy

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Dialogues aim to develop new ways of thinking, build bridges of cooperation, and encourage creative public dialogue across geographic, social, and cultural limits.

Through live debates, events, and rich multimedia content, the SNF Dialogues foster the exchange of ideas, emphasizing the need for citizens to express themselves and communicate with each other, always rooted in values of equity and diversity.

The SNF Dialogues are free and open to everyone.

All discussions and their related content can be found at snfdialogues.org

The SNF Dialogues are curated and moderated by Anna-Kynthia Bousdoukou and are held through journalism nonprofit iMEdD (incubator for Media Education and Development).

SNF Dialogues: Diverse opinions, new ways of thinking

The opinions expressed by the SNF Dialogues participants, whether representing officially institutions and organizations or themselves, are solely their own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) or iMEdD. Speakers’ remarks are made freely, without prior guidance or intervention from the team.