Pavel warns AI could amplify manipulation, urges democratic oversight

President Petr Pavel warned Monday that artificial intelligence could increase manipulation and surveillance and create risks society does not yet fully understand, calling for democratic oversight of increasingly powerful technologies. Speaking in a prerecorded video at the opening of Prague’s Forum 2000 conference, Pavel said AI and other technologies could bring enormous benefits. Their development and use, however, must remain subject to public accountability and respect for fundamental rights. “Technology should enhance human freedom and resilience, not weaken our autonomy,” he said. Greater technological power brings greater responsibility Pavel argued that the more powerful technologies become, the greater the responsibility to ensure they operate within democratic safeguards. His remarks connected technological risks with the broader challenge of defending societies against manipulation and hostile pressure. The president also reiterated the need to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. He said its experience offered lessons in resisting threats extending beyond conventional warfare. “We can learn a lot from Ukraine’s unique experience in resisting all forms of hostile pressure, including disinformation and cyberattacks,” he said. Pavel’s address set out principles for technological development rather than announcing a specific regulatory proposal. RECOMMENDED ARTICLE Havel’s legacy frames an appeal for freedom The president also highlighted people in Myanmar, referred to as Burma in his remarks, who had opposed military rule despite imprisonment and repression. Their courage, he said, exposed the weakness of rulers who needed prisons to silence the truth. Pavel linked their experience to The Power of the Powerless , the essay by Václav Havel, the former Czech president and a founder of Forum 2000. He said Havel’s message remained relevant in an era when technology could amplify lies: truth still mattered, freedom required defense, and people without formal authority could make a difference. RECOMMENDED ARTICLE The conference’s 30th edition follows the 90th anniversary of Havel’s birth on Oct. 5. Former U.S. President George W. Bush also contributed a short prerecorded opening message, praising Havel’s belief that everyone deserved basic rights and freedoms. Pavel, who addresses the conference annually, participated by video while on a private trip abroad. He is expected to resume his official schedule Monday, Oct. 19.