What Can the Classics Teach Us About Artificial Intelligence?

Protagoras’ dictum that “man is the measure of all things—of things that are, that they are, and of things that are not, that they are not”—could be considered the founding act of anthropocentric ancient Greek civilization. The ancient Greeks, through mythology, theatre, and philosophy, constructed a spiritual universe revolving around the human being. At the same time, they reflected deeply on the dangers inherent in the attempt to expand human nature and the creation of intelligent machines. In the Homeric epics and myths related to the creations of Hephaestus, Medea, and Pandora, the question of the boundaries between humans and intelligent machines or automata was emphatically raised.

In the 21st century, developments in Artificial Intelligence urgently revive the age-old debate regarding biotechnology and the relationship between biological and technological factors. I will initially attempt to present and analyze ancient Greek myths in which this issue is addressed. Subsequently, I will develop broader reflections on the relationship between humans and intelligent machines within the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Finally, I will present my views on how classical literature can contribute to the discussion regarding the future and the impact of Artificial Intelligence.

Georgios Steiris is a Professor in the Department of Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), specializing in “Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy.” He serves as the Chair of the Department of Philosophy at NKUA (2025-28). He has taught at the University of the Peloponnese, the Hellenic Open University, and in Study Abroad Programs for the University of Connecticut and Boston University. He has been a Visiting Professor at Jyväskylä University and a Visiting Fellow at Bogazici University and Macquarie University.

He has been honored with the Golden Jubilee Medal ‘80 years of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University’ for his work on medieval Arabic philosophy. He is a member of the 7th Council (2025-2030) of the International Confucius Association.