One of the messages that is most often heard within the Government and also recently from the G7 is “man must be at the center of artificial intelligence”. Thus the Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso at the conclusion of the G7 of Industry recently organized in Verona and Trento. But it is a recurring phrase, uttered over and over again by both members of the Government and the opposition. According to cybersecurity expert and strategic business director of Tinexta Cyber Pierguido Iezzi, this concept does not resolve all the issues of the issue.
“Man is already at the center of artificial intelligence – he explained to AGI – but not because this has been chosen in an ethical and virtuous manner, but because AI, precisely because it is anthropocentric in conception, is as fallible as its creator: for the way in which it collects data, the sources, the algorithm, the possible risks, the possible manipulation of the algorithm. For a basic concept: if you provide the wrong input, you will inevitably have the wrong output. It is precisely his architecture that puts man at the center and this is precisely where his fallibility lies.”
The ongoing conflicts in various parts of the world, primarily that between Russia and Ukraine, but also that in the Middle East and its repercussions in the Red Sea, are proof of this. Artificial intelligence is an ally in decision-making processes that are however managed, architected and set by man.
“The G7 must therefore change the question – continues Iezzi – and put the reliability of an AI system at the center. The rules and regulations are good but we must aim to train citizens and address the issue of changing the habits of an entire nation and society.”
The risk is repeating what happened with social networks when the (almost) full awareness of the risks associated with their use arrived more than a decade after their diffusion. And don’t forget that in the case of artificial intelligence, underestimating the associated dangers would risk having much more devastating effects.
“You are truly sovereign over your data only if you have full awareness of what this can mean – he finally concluded – the reality is that there is no training and awareness program aimed at preparing us for the new. If man must truly be at the centre, he must know what the margins, the opportunities and the possible risks are. We need training for a real change habit AI management”, only in this way does man remain at the centre. And here the public-private alliance is strategic because if I train an employee he becomes a healthy bearer of knowledge which he will then spread to his home, among his friends, among his circle of acquaintances. This is the real issue. And this Government – in a bipartisan way – and the G7 must question themselves.”