A new culture of governance based on digital data and Artificial Intelligence was presented by Christos Tarantilis.
The professor at the Athens University of Economics and Business and Partner at EY (Ernst & Young), speaking at the Beyond 2026 technology exhibition as part of the session “Beyond digital: Building smarter public services together,” demonstrated how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are transforming public administration, enabling the government to anticipate challenges rather than reacting to them after the fact.
The economic benefit of prevention is undeniable: according to Mr. Tarantilis, reactive management results in a waste of resources, costing 3 to 4 times more than preventive action. Countries that already utilize AI for risk prediction achieve cost reductions of up to 50%, effectively safeguarding the safety and health of their citizens.
Analyzing the operation of predictive models, Mr. Tarantilis explained that the combination of Big Data and AI shifts the focus from “what happened” to “what is going to happen”. By processing a massive volume of historical data—ranging from demographic and environmental data to the condition of infrastructure—AI identifies patterns that the human mind is unable to discern. “When the system recognizes that the combination of a specific amount of water and the age of a network indicates a high probability of flooding, management gains the valuable time needed to take preventive action,” he noted.
When asked about the limitations of the human factor in data analysis, Mr. Tarantilis focused on the limits of human cognitive capacity when it comes to simultaneously processing multiple variables. In contrast, AI analyzes and correlates millions of data combinations—from terrain slopes and meteorological conditions to the age of infrastructure—that change dynamically. “Thousands of sensors transmit data around the clock. Where the human factor reaches its limits, AI cross-references and evaluates millions of data combinations in real time,” he noted.
Concluding his presentation, Mr. Tarantilis identified the transition to Real-time Policies as a fundamental parameter of the new era.
As he explained, 2026 marks a shift away from static policy models, which require lengthy planning and evaluation cycles. Instead, a methodology of continuous monitoring through dynamic data visualization systems (live dashboards) and the dynamic adjustment of interventions is being introduced. “If an intervention is deemed ineffective, we must have the operational readiness to revise it within two weeks, not after two years have passed,” he emphasized, noting that the adoption of real-time policies optimizes response time in crisis situations by 67%.
For Mr. Tarantilis, the “Beyond Digital” message is clear: technology is holistically integrated into governance, transforming the institutional culture of governance from a reactive approach to one of prevention and proactive initiatives. It is no longer merely a tool for digitizing outdated bureaucratic methods, but rather the fundamental prerequisite for creating new, intelligent processes that serve citizens in real time.
