Mattarella's warning: institutions should not limit themselves to partisan views

"Among institutions and within institutions, collaboration, the search for common points, the sharing of choices are essential for their proper functioning and for the service to be rendered to the community". Thus the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Festival of Regions and Provinces. "There are, in particular, moments in the life of every institution in which it is not possible to limit oneself to affirming one's own vision of things - deepening furrows and contrasts - but it is necessary to be able to exercise mediation and synthesis skills'. This 'attitude,' he adds, 'is an essential part of democratic life'. Between the lines one can read a solicitation to the parties, on the part of the Head of State, for the election of the constitutional judges who are still vacant after months of unsuccessful attempts.

Representatives of some youth associations also took part in the opening ceremony of the Festival delle Regioni, in Bari's Piccinni theatre, presenting the objectives of their activities before the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. "We should all approach the topic of ecological transition with the determination that characterises the approach of young people. It is clear to them how nature can no longer be regarded as a resource to be used and exploited, and how the planet's resources are not unlimited and cannot reproduce themselves indefinitely'. According to the President of the Republic, this is the reason for "the urgent need to intervene through far-sighted and responsible policies that set goals and succeed in mobilising the necessary economic resources and investment. Consistent and stable policies over time that create a climate of trust and promote, with effective tools, those changes in behaviour and lifestyles required by such a demanding process. Combating climate change and resolutely pursuing the path of de-carbonisation are inalienable objectives'.

"Strongly emerging is the need for an adequate system of governance that favours the development of artificial intelligence by ensuring that it is used to affirm and not to violate the dignity of persons". In a further passage of his speech, the head of state explains how 'as always in history, the results that science delivers to humanity open up great prospects for progress and present risks of perverse use. The choice is entrusted to the people'. On the Ia front, was his reasoning, 'the question arises as to whether a new revolution has begun: just as the industrial revolution surrogated physical force, substituting machines for people, so now artificial intelligence appears, according to some, destined to surrogate the intellectual capacities of human beings. This clearly raises important ethical questions'. 'Which decisions,' he added, 'must remain firmly in the hands of human beings and which can be delegated to a supercomputer? Do we really think that a machine can replace a doctor in treating people or a judge in writing a sentence? One cannot help but reflect on the unrepeatability of every single human person and the unrepeatability of every life situation'.

Il Presidente della Repubblica Sergio Mattarella con Massimiliano Fedriga alla cerimonia di apertura del 3° Festival delle Regioni e delle Province

"There is no doubt, on the other hand," the president added, "that artificial intelligence can make a great contribution to the development of mankind's wellbeing and provide a highly beneficial contribution to the solution of global problems, including those of an environmental nature. Think of the applications of artificial intelligence in water resource management and in the organisation of the transport system. In medicine, where it can open up great prospects of hope. Let us think of advances in telemedicine that increase the possibilities of treating people even in the poorest countries'.

"What risks do we run if the fast pace of development and the ever-widening applications of AI remain the prerogative of a limited number of global players endowed with enormous resources and who, in fact, evade any form of regulation?" asks Mattarella further. "Can we allow unbridled competition aimed at grabbing data about people's lives in order to use it for economic advantage and also to influence their choices? All kinds of choices. Is the manipulation of information or even the fabrication of false news for the purpose of conditioning public opinion even in the expression of a vote tolerable?"