In this talk, Chrysa Voulgaridou explores how Artificial Intelligence can serve culture and tourism not merely as a technological tool, but as a strategic and ethical framework aligned with the Aristotelian concept of “eudaimonia.”

With roots in Stagira, the birthplace of Aristotle, and with more than twenty years of experience in capital markets, institutional risk management, and crisis analysis, she approaches Artificial Intelligence through an Aristotelian lens: as a tool that must operate under the guidance of prudence, ethical judgment, and long-term social benefit.

Aristotle did not speak of “tourism” in the modern sense. However, his philosophy laid the foundation for the concepts of cultural identity, education, participation in public life, and the pursuit of virtue. For Aristotle, culture was inseparably linked to education — to the cultivation of character and intellect within the city. The exchange of ideas, movement, experience, and participation were all elements of human fulfillment.

Today, in Aristotle’s homeland, culture and tourism are no longer static elements of heritage. They constitute dynamic ecosystems shaped by data, digital platforms, predictive models, and artificial intelligence algorithms. The question is not whether AI will transform strategy in culture and tourism — this is already happening. The critical question is: in which direction?

The talk examines:

• How Artificial Intelligence can enhance the preservation of cultural heritage without compromising its authenticity.
• How predictive systems and risk analysis can strengthen sustainable tourism governance.
• How data-driven strategies must be guided by ethical thinking, not just efficiency.
• How leadership in culture and tourism is called to balance innovation with virtue.

By connecting Aristotelian philosophy with contemporary applications of Artificial Intelligence, a model of “ethical innovation” is proposed, in which technology serves resilience, strategic foresight, and human-centered development.

From Stagira to Thessaloniki and the world, the birthplace of Aristotle is not merely a historical point of reference. It is transformed into a living laboratory where philosophy meets artificial intelligence, and where the pursuit of eudaimonia remains the highest measure of progress.