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Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace and the global balance of power, prompting questions about whether Cyprus and Europe are prepared to adapt quickly enough. These issues took center stage as Digital Agenda Summit 2026 opened in Nicosia on Wednesday under the theme “AI WARS: Challenging the balance of power.”
Kyriacos Kokkinos, who welcomed participants to the event, called for a human-centered approach to the technology, questioning how AI can advance human interests without making people redundant.
He also warned that Europe risks falling behind international competitors as AI develops at an extraordinary pace. Responding to this challenge will require changes to education, employment and economic policy, alongside decisions about Europe's position in an increasingly technology-driven world.
The summit brings together questions about technological progress and its consequences for individuals, businesses and governments, with particular attention to the choices facing Cyprus and the rest of Europe.
Education faces a changing jobs market
Kokkinos questioned whether traditional education systems are equipping graduates with the skills employers will need as AI reshapes professional roles.
A university degree remains an important qualification, he argued, but it does not necessarily guarantee that graduates are ready for the demands of a rapidly changing labour market. Education must evolve to prepare people for new working environments, while businesses need to reconsider the skills required to recruit and retain talent.
The challenge affects students choosing their fields of study, employees adapting to technological change and employers seeking workers who can meet emerging demands.
Kokkinos said the summit was intended to encourage critical thinking rather than offer definitive answers to every question. By examining assumptions and identifying gaps in understanding, participants could gain a clearer picture of the decisions ahead.
Who sets the rules for artificial intelligence?
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos welcomed the summit to the capital, describing it as an important forum for discussions extending beyond technology to include politics, public policy and the future of society.
He presented artificial intelligence as a field of international competition in which governments are seeking to advance their own strategic interests. This creates difficult questions about how the technology should be governed, whose ethical standards should apply and who should have the authority to establish the rules.
Regulation is only one part of the debate. Prountzos also questioned the financial implications of AI investment, including the possibility of a market bubble and the effects of rapid technological development on financial markets.
Despite these geopolitical and economic considerations, he stressed the need for AI to produce tangible benefits for ordinary people. Its value should ultimately be judged by what it enables people to achieve in practice.
The opening discussions placed Cyprus's preparedness, Europe's competitive position and the responsible use of artificial intelligence at the heart of the summit's agenda.
