The Onassis Foundation supports the new program of the Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, “Introduction of Artificial Intelligence in Schools”

The “Introduction of Artificial Intelligence in Schools” is a pilot educational program that will be implemented in 20 High Schools (Lykeion), with a view to gradually expanding to more public schools across the country. The participating schools include six of the Onassis Public High Schools that will begin operating in the new school year, as well as selected Model and Experimental high schools.

Partners in the implementation of this initiative are organizations with extensive experience in the field of education, such as The Tipping Point in Education, which, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and the Institute of Educational Policy, will oversee the training of all participants.

Through an extensive teacher training program, a special edition of OpenAI’s artificial intelligence tools, ‘ChatGPT Edu,’ designed specifically for the educational community, will be utilized. The platform operates in a safe and ad-free environment, fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and provides administrative control capabilities to the Ministry of Education. Teachers will be able to adapt OpenAI’s tools for lesson planning and delivery, as well as for administrative tasks, while students, through a program of responsible, ethical, and reliable artificial intelligence, will be able to use the technology for personalized learning, idea development, foreign language learning, and research projects.

That same day, the “OpenAI for Greece” Memorandum of Cooperation was signed by the Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki, the President of the Onassis Foundation, Anthony S. Papadimitriou, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, and OpenAI’s Head of Education and Government GTM, Kevin Mills.

During the presentation, Anthony S. Papadimitriou, President of the Onassis Foundation, which funds the program, emphasized: “It is truly an honor for the Onassis Foundation to participate at such a pivotal moment for our country’s educational policy and to collaborate with the State and the Ministry of Education as strategic partners in this pioneering initiative, which is also linked to the launch next week of the first Onassis Public Schools.”

As part of the presentation, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke with Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a discussion moderated by Minister of Education, Religious Affairs, and Sports, Sofia Zacharaki. The Prime Minister expressed his enthusiasm for the new collaboration, highlighting the transformative role of artificial intelligence in education. As he emphasized, AI tools can enhance the work of teachers, relieving them of administrative burdens and allowing them to focus more on teaching, while offering students innovative and creative ways of learning.

During the conversation, Sam Altman pointed out that ChatGPT usage in Greece has increased sevenfold over the past year, with nearly 60% of users under the age of 35, and expressed his conviction that artificial intelligence can be a catalyst for positive change in societies that embrace it.

OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, said: “From Plato’s Academy to Aristotle’s Lyceum, Greece is the historic birthplace of Western education. Today, with millions of Greeks regularly using ChatGPT, the country is once again demonstrating its commitment to learning and ideas. Recognizing that nearly 60% of these users are under the age of 35, the Greek government is opening a new chapter in education, preparing its people to seize the economic opportunities of the artificial intelligence era. We are proud to stand alongside Greece, which is pioneering the way nations can integrate artificial intelligence into the education of the next generation.”

Firm in the belief that education is a catalyst for a sustainable and just future, the Onassis Foundation continues to act as an ally of the State, supporting initiatives that serve the public interest and reflect its benevolent nature.