Larnaca, Cyprus. The Cyprus AI Expo 2026 concludes on Monday at UCLan Cyprus University in Larnaca after a three-day programme on the practical use of artificial intelligence. The event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, developers and business professionals.
Programme and themes
Held under the theme “The Future of Intelligence”, the event ran from July 4 to 6. Its programme included keynotes, panel discussions, firechats, networking sessions, startup-focused content and live demonstrations.
The sessions focused on how AI is reshaping business, education, healthcare, marketing, investment, cybersecurity and the future of work.
Opening sessions
The expo opened on Saturday with an address by Larnaca mayor Andreas Vyras, followed by an opening keynote from Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou, according to the official programme.
Cyprus positioning and policy focus
The event took place as Cyprus seeks to strengthen its position in the regional technology and innovation landscape, while businesses face increasing pressure to move beyond experimentation and identify practical uses for AI.
This focus was reflected across the programme, which emphasised adoption, governance and measurable impact rather than presenting artificial intelligence only as a future trend.
Strategy and business adoption
One of the central discussions examined Cyprus’ AI strategy and human-centricity, featuring Chief Scientist Demetris Skourides and Dr Tassos Anastasiades.
The organisers list Skourides as chair of both the National AI Taskforce and the Board of the Research and Innovation Foundation, with a role in shaping Cyprus’ research, innovation, technology and AI policy direction.
Business adoption was also a major theme, with sessions examining how AI is changing enterprise operations, productivity, recruitment, marketing, customer engagement and investment decisions.
Readiness, governance and skills
Panels and keynote sessions covered AI readiness, generative AI, governance, ethics, regulation and the risks companies face when AI systems are introduced into internal operations without proper safeguards.
The programme also addressed smaller businesses through sessions including “How Do I Make My Business AI Ready?”, “AI Readiness: a Step-by-Step Guide”, and “Beyond the Hype: Driving Real-World AI ROI in Traditional Offline Retail”.
Education and skills also featured prominently, with discussions on AI in Education, Gen Alpha and Gen AI, the future of software developers, and how society should prepare for the age of AI.