On September 9, 2025, Dr. Maria Papadopoulou, Assistant Professor at the University of Crete and Director of the TALOS-AI4SSH Lab, was invited to participate in SmartTalks #83, the online interview series of InfoCom.gr that hosts prominent Greek figures from the fields of technology, AI, business, and innovation.

You can find the interview here
[in Greek]

In this episode, Dr. Papadopoulou introduced the mission and activities of TALOS, emphasizing how Artificial Intelligence can become a valuable ally in research and education across the Humanities and Social Sciences. She highlighted the lab’s interdisciplinary approach, which combines knowledge modelling, ontologies, and ontoterminologies with cutting-edge AI methods, always with a focus on Explainable AI (XAI). Transparency, accountability, and the ability of AI systems to explain their reasoning were discussed as essential principles for academic use and public trust.

The discussion also touched on how TALOS contributes to the study and preservation of cultural heritage, drawing on computational tools that allow researchers to detect patterns in large datasets, reconstruct incomplete ancient texts, and create structured frameworks for cultural and historical analysis. In addition, Dr. Papadopoulou pointed to the challenges of talent attraction in AI, the importance of “brain circulation,” and the lab’s efforts to train a new generation of researchers through internships, workshops, and international collaborations.

Finally, she reflected on the broader vision of TALOS: not only to advance scholarly research, but also to connect AI with society, ensuring that the lab’s outputs remain open, transparent, and beneficial to diverse communities. This includes future steps in open science, tech transfer, and even integrating cultural perspectives into the design of smart cities.

SmartTalks is a long-standing InfoCom.gr series designed to inform the public on key issues in technology and business, offering expert perspectives on current challenges and opportunities. InfoCom itself is a major Greek media hub for telecommunications, IT, AI, and the broader knowledge economy.