AI in everyday life. Angelo Mazzetti (Meta) speaks

Rome. Artificial intelligence viewed not as a precursor to catastrophe, but as an opportunity in everyday life: this was the topic of discussion at Meta’s AI Forum in Rome, through real-life stories and with the help of an Ipsos survey on the use of AI in Italian SMEs. We asked Angelo Mazzetti, Director of Institutional Relations at Meta in Italy: how can we navigate between the two extremes – the dystopian scenario and the bright side of the moon? “It’s true that the debate is polarised between doomsayers and hyper-optimists,” says Mazzetti, “but this is because it’s taken for granted that technology must inevitably go one way or the other, as if its future were already written, regardless of us. Well, we don’t believe that’s the case.” The widespread fear is that humanity will be wiped out. “That technology should not replace humanity and that humanity must remain central to the AI decision-making loop is absolutely true and extremely important. But this also means that the future of AI depends on our individual or collective choices, on how we choose to use it and on the governance we decide to apply to this technology.” What are the possible paths? “A technology can be truly transformative and bring about positive change if people can access it easily, so that it can be used in everyday life.” Any examples? “A company can use it to boost productivity, expand its business and automate certain processes. An individual can have greater access to information and culture. The question we must ask ourselves is: do we want this technology to remain in the hands of the few, or are we prepared to ensure it is available to as many people as possible?’ At present, in Italy and across Europe, efforts are being made to put legislative frameworks in place to curb potential abuses. “Italy and the EU can play a very important role. Just consider that Europe has a single market comprising 400 million advanced, tech-savvy and connected consumers; it boasts excellence in the academic sphere; it has a huge manufacturing sector and holds a leading position in the field of wearable devices, such as AI Glasses, developed by Meta in collaboration with EssilorLuxottica: a device that accompanies you, seeing what you see and hearing what you hear.” In Europe, however, “there is also an issue of competitiveness”, as highlighted by Mario Draghi, Enrico Letta and the Italian and German governments,” says Mazzetti: “In recent years, legislative output has been intense: 100 different laws in the digital sphere and 270 different regulatory bodies. While clear, easily enforceable and forward-looking rules can build trust, the proliferation of regulations risks leading to excessive compliance costs, bureaucracy and a consequent slowdown in the adoption of technology.” What are the current applications of AI in everyday life? “Technology can now become a tool for empowerment, acting as a ‘personal super-intelligence’. I’m thinking of Muse, the world’s first personal AI assistant, currently launched in the United States and Canada: designed with the individual in mind, it can support you in your daily activities and simplify complexity, carrying out tasks on your behalf, under your supervision and control.” As for smart glasses, says Mazzetti, “the ‘Sensing Art’ project at the Pinacoteca di Brera allows blind or visually impaired people to visit the museum, having the artworks described to them as they frame them with the glasses. There is also the pilot scheme for women’s safety launched with the Italian start-up ‘Viola’, founded by the association ‘Donne per strada’, which used to provide a night-time video-escort service, now integrable via the use of the glasses.” SMEs, according to Ipsos data, are gradually catching up. “AI enables companies with limited resources to achieve much more in less time and with fewer resources. This does not mean automation leading to job losses; on the contrary, it generates value and productivity.” The issue of risks remains: can we move forward whilst simultaneously developing a solution to the danger? “None of this would hold water if artificial intelligence laboratories did not take a responsible approach to building and releasing models. Being optimistic does not mean ignoring the risks, but having confidence in technology’s ability to bring value through a collective effort.”