The fear is not that AI might have a conscience, but that it might make us lose sight of ours. This is why it is always necessary to doubt and exercise a critical spirit. Using the tools it offers us without becoming them ourselves. AI is not the future, but the present, and its use must be integrated into production processes to improve them, but first by training awareness and skills. From the Sud Innovation Summit in Messina, the top voices of hi tech outline the trajectory of a necessary technological evolution, which must see shared action to provide adequate tools capable of breaking down territorial and social gaps. And the appeal starts right from the south, from the city of Messina which for the third edition is hosting the largest event linked to innovation and digitalisation.
Founder Roberto Ruggeri opened it yesterday at Polo Papardo Unime, to the satisfaction of those who have seen the growth of an event that has now become a point of reference. «We are not here to celebrate technology – underlined Ruggeri, president of Sud Innovation Aps who organized the event with the Municipality and the University – but to understand how to govern it. Artificial intelligence is not neutral, it is a mirror. If we choose convenience, we will build systems that make us passive; if we choose curiosity and doubt, we will build systems that enable us. The South can be a laboratory of balance between speed and awareness, a Mediterranean model of human, ethical and competitive innovation.” The inauguration was held in the presence of the city authorities, including the prefect Cosima Di Stani.
The Unime vice-rector Paola Dugo, greeting on behalf of the rector Giovanna Spatari, reiterated the University’s support, aimed in particular at providing young people with tools and also reasons to “stay”. «Messina – stated the mayor Federico Basile – must be a protagonist in emerging sectors, starting with the technological one. This Summit is a product that integrates with the city, that looks to new horizons and that must make the roots of a new innovation economy sprout here. The minister’s presence here today demonstrates the Government’s interest in a fundamental field such as technology, but above all in the job opportunities that must arise in Southern Italy.”
Guest of the inaugural ceremony was the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies Nello Musumeci who placed at the center of his speech the strategic role of Southern Italy and Sicily in the new Mediterranean scenario, recalling the vision of the Mattei Plan as a bridge of cooperation between Europe and Africa and reiterating how innovation, training and digitalisation represent the keys to facing the challenges of development and competitiveness of the South, but placing emphasis on the training of young people and on investing in their skills. «The competition is difficult – he added – because the South remains behind, at least in the last sixty, seventy years. We need infrastructure, we need services, and artificial intelligence, innovation and digitalisation are the tools with which we can win this challenge.”
The speech by Matteo Mille, chief marketing & operation officer of Microsoft Italy, was of great intensity, explaining how the integration of AI can increase GDP by 18% with an increase of 336 billion in added value. And this would come above all from small and medium-sized businesses, mainly concentrated in the center-south from where, therefore – by fighting the digital divide – a push for change can and must start. «A privilege to be here» he told the audience in Messina, highlighting the importance of the positioning acquired by the Sis.
Among the other speakers in the plenary, Giovanni Todaro (IBM), Daryoush Goljahani (Google Cloud), Federico Aguggini (Intesa San Paolo) and Giuliano Noci (National AI Committee) who reiterated the need to put young people at the center and share experiences.
Among yesterday’s panels was also the one promoted by Innovation Island on “Champions and places of innovation: towards a Sicilian supply chain”, with the founder Biagio Semilia, Annarita D’Urso, Ugo Parodi Giusino, Manfredi Domina, Andrea Scarano, Sebastiano Di Stefano, Daniele Di Pasquale.
The work of the Sud Innovation Summit – AI for Future will continue today with the plenary session dedicated to the major themes of artificial intelligence and with thematic verticals on AgriTech & FoodTech, AI Advanced, Coding, Design, Smart City & Mobility, Legal Tech, Women & Leadership in Tech and Start-ups and innovation ecosystems. The report on innovation in the south will be presented, with the new competitiveness measurement index.
At 10 am the journalistic training course promoted by Ses on journalism and artificial intelligence, in the afternoon the conclusions, with Ruggeri and mayor Basile.
On the official website the program and the free ticket for access to the second day.