PHAROS AI Factory, Greece’s national ecosystem for accelerating Artificial Intelligence innovation, was presented at Athens Music Week 2026, through the participation of the Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications (IIT) of NCSR Demokritos in discussions on AI, innovation, copyright and the future of the music ecosystem.
Dr Stelios Karozis, Affiliated Researcher at NCSR Demokritos and Deputy Technical Coordinator of PHAROS AI Factory EU Project, participated in the panel discussion “AI & Music: Moving Past the Fear, Towards Real Practice” on 7 May 2026. The session explored the practical integration of AI across the music value chain — from creation and production to distribution and audience development — highlighting how AI tools are already reshaping creative workflows and professional practices.
In his intervention, Dr Karozis presented PHAROS as part of the European AI ecosystem supporting trustworthy and human-centric AI infrastructures for the cultural sectors. He highlighted the role of the music industry within the Culture vertical of PHAROS, emphasising how AI can expand artistic creation, accelerate experimentation and prototyping, and support artists and music professionals in developing new creative and professional pathways.
On 8 May 2026, Alexandros Nousias, AI Ethics Officer at NCSR Demokritos, participated in the panel discussions “Innovation and the Law: Where to Move Fast and When to Stop” and “Structuring Music Ecosystem: Investment, Resilience and Cross-Sector Collaboration”. His interventions focused on the role of PHAROS in supporting trusted AI solutions and value-added services for the music industry, including rights-aware data use, licensing workflows, discoverability, audience insights, and new market services.
Particular emphasis was placed on the growing tension between rapid AI innovation and copyright, especially in relation to training data, licensing, attribution, and monetisation in generative AI music services. The discussions highlighted the importance of developing rights-aware AI systems by design, supported by trusted data flows, transparent permissions, and fair value distribution models that enable innovation while respecting creators’ rights.
PHAROS’ presence through IIT’s participation at Athens Music Week 2026 underscores its strategic role in supporting trustworthy, human-centric and rights-aware AI innovation for the cultural and creative sectors, strengthening the connection between research, technology, and Europe’s evolving music ecosystem.
