Raimondi (Chief Prosecutor of Trento): 'Crime already uses artificial intelligence'

The opportunity presented by artificial intelligence is also well understood by organised crime. "There is a radical change that has to do with AI, the internet, the use of cryptocurrencies: the 'ndrangheta buys bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. Cosa Nostra and especially the 'Ndrangheta already use artificial intelligence'. He said this at the opening of his speech at the Trento Festival of Economics: "Mine - underlines the Chief Prosecutor of Trento, Sandro Raimondi - is a cry for help. Because we have realised that Cosa Nostra and the 'Ndrangheta, which has a very significant heritage and financial structure, are already using artificial intelligence, they have their super-experts and they already have the equipment'.

The theme is 'The super computers that are changing our lives'. And the appeal of the Chief Prosecutor of Trento is to firmly push the accelerator on the use of artificial intelligence to fight organised crime. 'AI can give the possibility to process billions of data for important and fast analyses'.

And this becomes basic in the challenges that for the Prosecutor's Offices pass through 'the fight against money laundering, the illegal traffic in waste, the other is the fraud of petroleum products', adds Raimondi, also recalling 'the forms of financing of Islamic fanaticism', but concluding with a message of optimism: 'Two years ago we made an agreement with Cineca, Leonardo and Innova that will work with the use of the Hpc supercomputer for the execution of preliminary investigations'. Therefore, 'crime has resources and is moving on AI, but we have Cineca, Leonardo, excellences that can help, as well as the world's best police forces, trained over the years by two gyms: anti-terrorism and anti-mafia'.

In short, we need to believe in it. Just as we need to bet on investment in quantum AI, added Roberto Siagri, CEO of Rotonium, a Quantum Computer Deep Tech start-up. And this is because 'with those calculators we will be able to do things that would otherwise be impossible'. Needless to hide, however: the issue is one of investment. "The battle is not yet lost because there are no industrial applications as yet. Other countries, however, are well ahead of us. Germany invests 5 billion; France more than 3; the United Kingdom more than 4 in 5-10 years'. It is therefore imperative not to miss this train, 'because after 2030 there will be two types of companies: those that have failed and those that will make intensive use of AI and quantum AI'.

Investment yes, but we need 'continuity, not just quantity. We must not make the mistake of giving in to a short or medium-term vision only,' adds Barbara Caputo, lecturer at the Turin Polytechnic. And alongside this, it is inevitable, there is the issue of 'training. We have to consider that we are dealing with fast-moving technologies. Frontal teaching cannot cope and we all need to get involved'. However, young people must have 'the iron, the tools to implement by gaining concrete experience. Public infrastructure must support the advancement of Ia; there is a need for adequate training and technical education'.