Microsoft executive: skills, not technology, will decide Southern Europe's AI future

The second phase of artificial intelligence is now being judged not just by the models themselves, but by how well economies can turn the technology into real productivity gains. In an interview with Fortune Greece, Microsoft's Vice President for Southern Europe, Charles Calestrupa, said the region — namely Greece, Portugal and Italy — is moving beyond simply adopting AI tools toward building a genuine ecosystem around them.

Under its 'GR for GRowth' initiative, Microsoft has trained more than 100,000 professionals across the region in AI fundamentals. According to Calestrupa, skills are the foundation of this shift: per the 2025 Work Trend Index report, 46% of organizations worldwide are already automating workflows using AI agents — software tools that autonomously carry out user tasks — while 82% of executives plan to roll them out within the next 12 to 18 months.

Calestrupa stresses that successful organizations — what he calls 'Frontier Firms', companies striving for leadership in AI — first redesign their workflows around AI and only then roll out the technology itself. 'Success means being able to measure concrete business outcomes. Start with a strategic, top-down vision, then focus on your most critical business priorities, and put in place solid AI governance that meets data protection requirements,' he says.

Yet the region faces a serious obstacle Calestrupa calls the 'transformation paradox': survey data shows 65% of employees worry about falling behind in AI transformation, but 45% would rather stay in their 'safe zone' than take risks, and only 13% believe their organization values a culture of trial, error and learning. This paradox stems largely from the structure of the small and mid-sized businesses that form the backbone of the regional market — some can't find specialists with the right skills, while others don't yet feel the need for new ones.

At the same time, major infrastructure investment is flowing into the region: companies such as EDGNEX Data Centers (a joint venture between PPC Group and DAMAC) and Digital Realty are building data centers worth hundreds of millions of euros in Greece, while Pimco's Apto investment vehicle is planning the roughly €770 million 'Data Center Olive' project. Microsoft itself is turning Athens into a central management hub for the whole of Southern Europe — the office now oversees 12 markets.

Calestrupa concludes that only regions able to combine skills development, infrastructure and organizational transformation will see real economic returns from AI — the technology alone offers no guarantee.