Publication date: 
2026/05/06
Czech scientist and professor in the field of artificial intelligence. A visionary who founded the Center for Artificial Intelligence 25 years ago. He was at the birth of several successful startups and worked as a technology director at Avast. Hrot magazine spoke with the new rector of CTU, Michal Pěchouček, about the hopes and threats of artificial intelligence.

A notoriously repetitive scenario in the sci-fi genre – artificial intelligence takes over the world and the human race suffers. The holder of many awards, including the Prime Minister's Medal of Karel Kramář for lifetime achievements in science, is not afraid of such a scenario. "The biggest danger is of a completely different nature. It is that a person gradually loses his ability to make decisions for himself," he says.

 

The gradual loss of human autonomy and the rapid pace of change to which society is unable to adapt. Moreover, an imaginary train is coming to Europe. The world players in the field of artificial intelligence – the United States and China – are sitting on it. However, the main and often mentioned reason is not excessive regulations.

 

What is holding back the European Union in innovation? How does Michal Pěchouček perceive the growing influence of technology companies in state power? Can he, as rector of CTU, give Czech industry the courage to take risks?

Author: 
Sára Goldbergerová
Source: 
Hrot