en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Italian Alliance for Sustainable Development (ASviS) held a special event focused on artificial intelligence governance during the World Tech Conference, exploring the real-world impact of AI on social development through five keywords: speed, governance, sustainability, education, and labor. The event took place on June 25 at the Allianz MiCo convention center in Milan, continuing the dialogue format of the "AI Trial" from the Turin Book Fair in May. It was hosted by Sara Zambotti of Italy's National Radio, with discussions involving ASviS Scientific Director Enrico Giovannini, digital law expert Ernesto Bellisario, and Milan Polytechnic automation professor Mara Tanelli.
On the topic of speed, panelists discussed the pace of AI adoption. ChatGPT reached 100 million users in just two months. Regarding this, Bellisario argued that the current speed is not technological but financial, with technological evolution advancing at the pace of markets and IPOs, potentially compromising safety. Tanelli noted that AI became widespread through smartphones before being fully scientifically validated, and there is a gap between the perceived speed in the business world and actual speed. Giovannini expressed skepticism about the possibility of slowing down, believing that driven by massive capital, the market will remain chaotic. He added that AI is currently mostly recorded as a cost, which may temporarily have a negative impact on GDP.
The governance topic focused on the concentration of technological power and the preservation of democracy. Bellisario stated that the EU has taken a leading role with the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Act in terms of transparency, human oversight, and sustainability, but lacks global coordination. Tanelli argued that AI could exacerbate "digital poverty," noting that technology inherently carries moral implications. She called for more interdisciplinary scientific experts at decision-making tables and raised issues of algorithmic accountability and explainability. Giovannini proposed three paths for the EU: education, research on AI's social impact, and standardization. He also called for a capitalist model based on European principles, introducing indicators of fairness and sustainable well-being to measure progress.
The sustainability topic addressed the balance between AI's energy consumption and ecological transition. Giovannini cited a study by the Bank of Italy, stating that data center energy consumption is currently manageable at the national level, but the problem of high local concentration is severe. Using Milan's heatwave as an example, he pointed out that concentrating too many data centers in a single region risks local grid collapse, as urban infrastructure is not designed for such loads.
The topics of education and labor were discussed together. Tanelli suggested teaching AI starting from primary school and training teachers, while warning that the new generation's reliance on AI could become a new form of addiction. She noted that entry-level jobs will be "devoured" by AI, making it more difficult to enter the labor market. Bellisario cited a ruling by a Rome court—which deemed it legal to fire a graphic designer replaced by AI—and contrasted it with a case in China requiring retraining before dismissal, calling for the rapid creation of new rules. In his summary, Giovannini urged avoiding the mistakes made on climate change, proposing the establishment of a compensation fund to protect workers and vulnerable groups when problems arise.
