Hologram Voldymyr Zelensky makes surprise appearance at Dublin Tech Summit

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine appeared today via a 3D hologram at the Tech Summit in Dublin and appealed to delegates to donate the finance and technology needed to make Ukraine the world’s freest digital nation.

MEPs at the Ian Hyland-founded summit heard at lunchtime that President Zelenskyy would address them at 4:20 p.m.

“We want to use our platform and community to help fight the ongoing effort in Ukraine, and gather support, both financial and technological, for the people who need it most,” said Mr. Hyland before introducing Zelensky.

Zelesnky began by saying that Ukraine has digitally transformed itself amid the ravages of war and needs help to continue doing so.

“Our goal is to make Ukraine the freest digital state in the world,” said Zelenskyy. “Ukraine is an opportunity for a global digital revolution, an opportunity for every technology company and an opportunity for every visionary to show their worth, skills, technology and ambition.”

ARHT Media, based in Toronto and Talesmith, UK, provided the holographic technology and multimedia delivery expertise that enabled Zelensky’s electronic telepresence to appear in Dublin as well as simultaneously appear on the stages of major technology events in Stockholm, Amsterdam and Paris .

Meanwhile, New York-based tech company Evercoast captured Zelensky’s address as an augmented reality experience on smartphones (available via the link here), which allowed users to see Mr. Zelensky’s address projected onto their own surroundings.

“It is no longer science fiction that artificial intelligence is as smart as humans,” said Zelenskyj. “It’s unusual for presidents or heads of government to use a hologram to address people.”

“These technological possibilities can transform public life; They have simplified the relationship between government and people and between government and business.”

“For the first time in human history, the state is 100 percent comfortable with the people; That is our goal and we can achieve it.”

“Just as Lendlease helped save Europe during WWII, I think digitization can now become a key factor in the dynamism of democracy.”

The Lendlease Act was passed by the US Congress in 1941 to allow the US to supply the UK, USSR and other allies with food, oil and materials during the war.

The Ukrainian government’s digital transition has continued despite the war, Mr Zelensky said, with artificial intelligence, for example, now being used to run the judiciary.

Finally, he called on the delegates to join the Digital Initiative of Ukraine, which can contribute to the development of its digital infrastructure and the cause of freedom.