On March 5, 2025, the event “Artificial Intelligence in Education: Opportunities and Challenges” was held, focusing on the responsible and effective use of AI in schools. The discussion addressed how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of education and the importance of its ethical and strategic integration into teaching and learning processes.
The event was organized in collaboration with Europe Direct Roma Innovazione, the European Documentation Center of the National Research Council (CNR), the Building Europe with Local Councillors network, and the Italian Library Association (AIB), with the support of the Municipality of Rignano Flaminio, the Italian Library Association, and AIxIA (Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence).
The discussion was opened by Giovanni De Simone, from the Planning, Programming, and Central Library Unit, followed by a session moderated by Andrea Orlandini, a researcher at the Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies of the CNR. Rossella Speroni, Communication Officer at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, provided insights into the institution’s role, highlighting the significance of the Ispra research center in advancing AI research.
In the following sessions, Enrica Amplo, from the Digital Economy Unit of the JRC in Seville, examined the role of AI in both education and environmental sustainability. Laura Vettraino, from the Directorate General for Digital Innovation, Simplification, and Statistics of the Ministry of Education and Merit, emphasized that while technology offers innovative solutions to educational challenges, the most advanced tool remains the human mind.
Andrea Orlandini encouraged an engaging discussion with students, prompting them to reflect on the broader implications of AI in society. Dianora Bardi, from Impara Digitale, explored the use of AI in classrooms, discussing its benefits and potential risks. Carla Limongelli, professor at Roma Tre University, focused on the opportunities that Large Language Models present for both educators and students.
A key highlight of the event was the demonstration of Tiago, a robot developed within the Fit4MedRob Project by the CNR Diitet. The event concluded with an interactive visit to the exhibition “Supercharged by AI”, which explored the societal challenges and ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence.
Additionally, Matilde Fontanin, from the University of Trieste and Sapienza University, introduced the IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) project “Media & Information Literacy for Social Resilience”, while Elena Aversa and Michele Mauri, from Politecnico di Milano, presented an exhibition on the impact of AI in everyday life.
This event, which PROGEU was pleased to support, served as a crucial moment for debate and reflection on the role of artificial intelligence in education, reinforcing the importance of adopting AI-driven solutions responsibly and effectively in both schools and broader society.
Find out more here.
