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Cyprus aims to develop at least 3,000 artificial intelligence professionals by 2032, as the Government steps up efforts to prepare the workforce and education system for the growing role of the technology.
Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodimos Damianou announced the target on Tuesday during a discussion at the 22nd Annual Economist Cyprus Summit in Nicosia, entitled “Artificial Intelligence: Does It Drive Growth or Deepen Inequality?”
Damianou said Cyprus should focus not simply on competing in the international AI race, but on identifying the sectors where the technology can deliver practical economic and social benefits.
He outlined three initiatives designed to improve digital skills and increase public access to AI tools.
The first is an Artificial Intelligence Literacy Framework, which will introduce AI education and critical thinking into schools while ensuring teachers retain control over the learning process.
A National AI Skills Observatory will help align training programmes with the changing requirements of the labour market, while the FutureAI CY initiative will provide reskilling opportunities for employees and small businesses.
The three measures form part of what Damianou described as a Social Contract for AI, based on the principle that technology should strengthen people's capabilities rather than replace them without their knowledge or involvement.
He warned that unequal access to artificial intelligence could create another form of social and economic division, particularly between those who understand how to use the technology and those who lack the necessary skills or resources.
“The bottleneck is not the machine. It is our organisations,” Damianou said, arguing that productivity gains will depend on how effectively businesses and public institutions integrate AI into their everyday operations.
He also called for greater access to open-source AI models and shared computing facilities, arguing that the technology should not remain concentrated among a small number of major providers.
Artificial intelligence is expected to contribute to economic growth, he said, but whether its benefits are distributed fairly will depend on decisions made by governments, businesses and society.
Greek official warns of growing digital divide
The challenge of ensuring equal access to artificial intelligence was also addressed by Demosthenis Anagnostopoulos, Secretary General for Information Systems and Digital Governance at Greece's Ministry of Digital Governance.
Anagnostopoulos warned that AI could create significant inequalities between people and businesses that can use the technology effectively and those that cannot.
Although artificial intelligence offers substantial opportunities to improve productivity, he said its economic benefits could become concentrated among a relatively small group unless governments take an active role in encouraging its adoption.
He argued that public authorities should not limit their involvement to regulation, but should also help businesses and public services introduce AI into their operations.
Figures presented during the discussion illustrated the differences in adoption across Europe. In 2025, approximately 50% to 55% of large European companies were using AI tools, compared with just 17% of small businesses.
Denmark recorded an adoption rate of around 42%, while Greece and Cyprus were both estimated to be close to 9%.
Anagnostopoulos pointed to several initiatives undertaken in Greece to improve access to digital technology. Some 60,000 licences for digital tools have been distributed to public sector employees, while 30,000 workers have received training. Free educational programmes have also been made available to citizens.
On infrastructure, he said Greece's Daedalus supercomputer, ranked 31st globally, is expected to begin offering artificial intelligence services, training and computing capabilities for running AI models from December.
He also referred to the Pharos ecosystem, which is intended to support the development of AI models and encourage their adoption.
Anagnostopoulos said investment in such infrastructure is important not only for individual countries but also for Europe's ambitions in artificial intelligence.
