The day of… Sophia, the Thessaloniki of innovation, the regional traffic chaos, earthquake checks and Byzantium in Japan

Good morning.

As of yesterday, completely quietly and imperceptibly, the… tangible era of Artificial Intelligence began for Thessaloniki. Almost without realizing it. Cause the presence tomorrow and the day after tomorrow at Beyondat the innovation and digital exhibition, held in its conference center TEF – Helexpo, of the world’s most famous artificial intelligence robot, named Sophia the Robot. What is new about the case, what is really revolutionary, is not the existence of an advanced robot that will be found in Thessaloniki, but the way we refer to it after yesterday’s Press Conference of the management of TIF – Helexpo for the presentation of Beyond. We’re talking about… Sophia, like we would talk about any normal, flesh-and-blood person. The following quote from the opening statement of TIF – Helexpo president Tassos Tzikas at yesterday’s presentation is typical: “Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and take photos with Sophia the Robot, who on her first visit to the city will be at stand of the Central Macedonia Region. In fact, as part of her stay at Beyond, she will participate in a discussion on Friday, April 26, in his presence Regional Governor of Central Macedonia, Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the researcher and director of computing systems of the MIT Media Lab – commander of the National Cyber ​​Security Authority, Dr. Michalis Bletsas, while he will also take part in the Artificial Intelligence conference”. Would Mr. Tzikas say anything different if he were a normal person? Not a single party would need to change from its report. Not coincidentally, from that moment on everyone refers to Sophia the Robot by her name!

The Thessaloniki of innovation

In the meantime, Voria.gr could not be absent from the Beyond, an exhibition event for innovation and digital. He therefore chose as the subject of the printed edition, which will be distributed these days not only at the Exhibition, but also everywhere in the city, the slogan “Thessaloniki of innovation”. A phrase that includes from AUTH, EKETA, Alexandria Innovation Zone and Thess Intec, to private companies with innovative achievements and a strong presence in Thessaloniki, such as BETA CAE Systems, Pfizer, Cisco, Deutsche Telekom and other small and large companies leading the new entrepreneurship. An issue – tribute, which has arisen reasonably for a media such as the Voria.gr, which as the largest and most valid in the region closely monitors – every day, every hour and every minute -, intervenes and influences the developments. The aim is to highlight both the existing situation and the dynamics that exist and feed the prospects of innovation, which in Thessaloniki are great. At the same time, to identify the key persons from the public and private sector, whose presence and action act as a promoting force. Look for it!

Traffic chaos

“The worst”. “For 10 years, all of you go away.” “It’s death-Traffic chaos due to Flyover.” These and many more… cute comments you will find in the reviews, if you google the words “Regional Thessalonica”. The total of 57 people who bothered to do so and rate the peripheral, however, gave it an average of 1.9/5 stars.

In fact, it is clear that most of the… jokes were written by the users after the construction work of FlyOver started. So, as it seems, the drivers on the ring road of Thessaloniki have always suffered, but they were probably used to it. And they remembered it again from the even greater inconvenience, which arose from November 2023, because of the FlyOver. And we are still in the preliminary work, which has also been temporarily stopped.

Earthquake inspections

Seismologists monitor his visits every day Ekelado in the territory. Every now and then they will measure a seismic vibration that will cause at least a little concern. After all, our country is located on such arcs – faults, as the experts call them, that is, it is a seismic area that produces strong earthquakes several times. We do not forget the wounds from the heavy blows of Enceladus. Especially in Thessalonikiwhere the earthquake of 1978 he remains alive in the memory of those who lived him. The seismologists of both our country and the members of the global scientific community agree on the following: we must learn to live with earthquakes and we must prepare accordingly, either at the level of structures, or more broadly as a society. In Greece for decades we have agreed that the pre-seismic inspection of buildings, at least the public ones, should proceed. We see the rest… Well, probably this intention for control seems to be well underway and is starting to materialize. Last week the president of the Technical Chamber of Greece speaking at an event in Thessaloniki on the “100 years of TEE” announced that he closed the matter and from May the pre-seismic inspections of the buildings will begin. As said by George Stasinos it was a request of the engineers for decades, which is now being satisfied, as the program enters the implementation phase by the State. The controls will concern public buildings and will start with schools, hospitals and police stations and will gradually expand. And so far so good, since we all understand that this is a huge project that will take time and absorb a lot of money. But let’s see what the controls will show and what the engineers will indicate at the end of the day. And how their suggestions will be implemented. Then we will see who will have to pay for the… marble. As for private buildings? Therefore, we still have a way to go.

Byzantium in Japan

In the Tokyo is located these days o professor of Byzantine Archeology and Art of the AUTH, Thanasis Semoglou, who will stay there for a month as a scholarship – perhaps the only Greek – of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and Waseda University. And if this is not news for the well-known professor and scholar of Byzantine art, two elements give more weight to his further education. The first is that Tomoyuki Masuda, one of the well-known Hellenists at the international level, teaches at Waseda University. Masouda did his doctoral thesis at AUTH in 1990 and for its needs he studied a manuscript of the Monastery of Dionysios of Mount Athos. He speaks Greek fluently, loves Greece and the Greek culture, which he knows quite well. The second and equally interesting element is the lecture that Thanasis Semoglou will give during his stay in Tokyo. On Saturday, May 18, at 1:00 PM (Tokyo time), he will speak before the students of Waseda University on the subject of the illustration of the Temple of Protato in Karyes. The event will last five hours and Mr. Semoglou will be invited to answer questions from students, who have heard so much and interesting things about the Orchard of Panagia from their professor.