Artificial intelligence and other technologies can bring major benefits but also increase manipulation and surveillance, creating risks that society does not yet fully understand or know how to control, President Petr Pavel said in an address opening the international Forum 2000 conference in Prague on Monday.
He called for democratic oversight of technology and continued support for Ukraine, whose experience resisting Russian aggression, disinformation and cyberattacks offers lessons in resilience. He also highlighted the courage of people in Burma opposing military rule.
The 2026 Forum 2000 International Award for Courage and Responsibility went to three Burmese dissidents, Tayzar San, Nan Lin and Htet Myat Aung, as well as the General Strike Coordination Body, a coalition of opposition movements in the country.
The conference has brought together more than 800 participants from 100 countries, including current and former presidents, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, politicians, diplomats and activists.
Forum 2000 was founded in 1996 by former Czech president Václav Havel, Japanese philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel.