The Lyceum Project 2025: Children in the Age of AI
An initiative for a global, open, and interdisciplinary dialogue connecting Philosophy to AI
The Lyceum Project is an international, interdisciplinary gathering that takes place every year at the Athens Conservatoire, next to the archaeological site of Aristotle’s Lyceum. It is an initiative that brings together academics, practitioners, policymakers, artists, and citizens to discuss the changes, opportunities, and challenges we face in the age of AI.
This year, on June 20, The Lyceum Project places childhood and AI at the epicentre of public debate to deliberate on: What does it mean to be a child in the age of AI? How to guide technology with wisdom and integrity, ensuring AI empowers children? And how does innovation align with our highest values, shaping a future that benefits all children?
With distinguished guests in attendance – including the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis – the event will engage leading voices in ethics, AI, education, policy-making and children development. Featured speakers include:
John Tasioulas, Professor of Ethics and Legal Philosophy and Director of the Institute for Ethics in AI at the University of Oxford;
Dorothy Chou, Director of Google DeepMind’s Public Engagement Lab;
Baroness Beeban Kidron, Member of the House of Lords and advisor to Oxford’s Institute for Ethics in AI.
The event will conclude with a site-specific performance at Aristotle’s Lyceum, inspired by this year’s theme. It will feature dance students from the Athens Conservatoire and musicians from the Contemporary Music Research Centre.
The Lyceum Project 2025 is organised by the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” and the World Human Forum; in collaboration with the Special Secretariat of Foresight, Presidency of the Government, Hellenic Republic; hosted by the Athens Conservatoire; in affiliation with The Center for Hellenic Studies – Harvard University and the Center for Hellenic Studies at the University of Chicago; with the support of the IEEE Standards Association | IEEE SA and the Alexander S. Pissios Family Foundation.
Main Sponsor: Google
Official Airline Partner: Aegean
Official Media Partner: Athens News Agency – Macedonian Press (ANA-MPA)
Future AI Leaders Sponsor: Hellenic Artificial Intelligence Society (EETN)
Admission is free; Registration is required.
The event will be held in English, except for the ‘AI & Education’ panel, which will be delivered in Greek. Interpretation devices will be available to facilitate understanding in both languages.
For more information, please visit: thelyceumproject.ai
Programme Highlights
The event explores key themes, including: human nature and AI, AI as intelligent tools for children’s flourishing, policy and governance.
Morning Session | 11:00 AM – 2:15 PM
-Giving children back their childhood: Balancing Rights and Protection in the Age of AI; Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Baroness Beeban Kidron.
-AI Governance Panel: This panel discussion will address regulation, ethical foresight, and legal responsibilities related to children in the age of AI, offering insights from academics, policy-makers and technology governance experts on shaping future governance frameworks.
-AI and Education Panel (in Greek): Academics, educators, and policymakers share their insights and experiences about how AI can empower teaching and learning, as well as how education can be shaped to support children, tomorrow’s citizens, in the age of AI.
-Young Scholars’ session | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM
A unique session where young scholars (PhD students or those within 7 years of their PhD), representing diverse fields (social sciences, humanities, education, computer science, AI ethics, and art), share their insights, ideas, and reflections on this year’s theme.
Evening Session | 6:30 PM – 8:45 PM
-Age-appropriate AI Design Panel: This panel brings together academics and AI practitioners to discuss how we design safe and trustworthy AI systems that empower children.
-AI for the next generation: Building an empowered society; A discussion with Prof John Tasioulas and Ms Dorothy Chou.
-Closing Remarks and Next Steps: Anastasia Giannakidou, Frank J. McLoraine Professor of Linguistics; Director, Center for Hellenic Studies at the University of Chicago.
-Experiencing the spirit of the place
The day will conclude with an evening interdisciplinary performance at Aristotle’s Lyceum, inspired by the topics discussed during the day. The Athens Conservatoire dance students, collaborating with Contemporary Music Research Center musicians, will offer a vibrant close to an intellectually stimulating day.
-Friday, 20 June 2025, starts at 10:30 AM
– Athens Conservatoire (Rigillis & Vasileos Georgiou B’ 17-19)
Admission is free; Registration required.
For more information, please visit: thelyceumproject.ai
Open to the public, educators, designers, researchers, policymakers, and media
