Excellencies, Colleagues, dear Friends, good morning to you all, also on behalf of Italy’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Massari.
I wish to thank the President of the Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communication in the Mediterranean (OCCAM) and Infopoverty, Mr. Pierpaolo Saporito, for his kind invitation to open the 24th edition of the “Infopoverty World Conference” on a very important and challenging topic, “How Could AI Fight Poverty Creating Well-Being for All?”, continuing on from last year’s discussions on how to act to ensure human rights and provide e-welfare for all.
Building on its long-standing activity, this interesting edition of the Infopoverty Conference aims at exploring how AI can be instrumental in fighting poverty and, in general, achieving the SDGs so as to create wellbeing for the whole of humanity and – we may add – “leaving no one behind”, which is more important than ever in a period of intersecting crises.
As Secretary-General António Guterres has recently emphasized, emerging technologies—and AI in particular— are increasingly shaping the international agenda and will significantly determine our ability to build inclusive, sustainable, and resilient societies.
The rapid advancement of AI has shown its extraordinary potential to reshape our societies and economies by predicting and mitigating crises, enhancing public services, and advancing climate action. These developments hold the promise of addressing the most pressing global challenges and accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which, as we all know, are lagging behind.
If governed wisely, Artificial Intelligence can undoubtedly help drive positive change. For instance, it can significantly contribute to poverty reduction and improve food security through advanced agricultural technologies, such as precision farming and climate-resilient crop monitoring. AI-powered analyses of big data can enhance decision-making across multiple areas of governance—from infrastructure planning and resource allocation to public health management—thus improving efficiency and accountability. AI drives productivity gains in education, supporting broader access with improved performance.
These are just a few examples of how Artificial Intelligence can be harnessed to support sustainable development. Yet, to fully unlock its positive potential and prevent harmful outcomes—such as the militarization or misuse of emerging technologies—a robust multilateral framework is essential.
The adoption of the Global Digital Compact at last year’s Summit of the Future, as an annex of the Pact for the Future, marked a groundbreaking milestone. It represents the first truly global framework designed to steer the ethical and responsible development of Artificial Intelligence. The full implementation of the Global Digital Compact, together with a renewed commitment to international cooperation and effective multilateralism, will be crucial to ensuring that AI serves as a force for good purposes, benefiting all members of society, rather than a driver of inequality, instability, or conflict.
In this regard, we fully support the timely implementation of the Pact, as well as, in this same context, the ongoing efforts led by Spain and Costa Rica to set up the terms of reference for the independent international Scientific Panel and a Global Dialogue on AI. The Pact puts greater emphasis on the eradication of poverty and the fight against hunger and food insecurity, which remains crucial in our action to achieve the 2030 Agenda. We look forward to the Second UN Food System Summit Stock Taking moment (UN FSS +4), after the previous Stock Taking moment held in Rome two years ago, as an important opportunity also to delve into AI and other technological breakthroughs capable of increasing food security and achieving our goals.
Italy placed artificial intelligence high on its international agenda, particularly during its G7 presidency last year, promoting a human-centered approach rooted in ethical principles and inclusivity.
Special emphasis was given to the link between AI and sustainable development. In the framework of the G7 presidency, the Italian government also launched a collaborative platform to promote AI-driven growth in Africa.
With an annual budget of €5 million, the AI Hub for Sustainable Development in Rome is designed to accelerate sustainable, AI-driven industrial growth in Africa by fostering local start-ups and entrepreneurial partnerships in critical sectors such as agriculture, health, infrastructure, education, training, water, and energy.
The governance choices we make today will define AI’s role in shaping societies for decades to come. A balanced, collaborative approach —grounded in international law, respect for human rights, inclusive policymaking, and technological expertise—is the only way to ensure that AI remains a tool for empowerment, innovation, and human progress. The ethical challenges ahead of us are undeniable, and they need our collective attention.
Italy remains firmly committed to this common endeavour.
I look forward to today’s exchange of ideas, confident that—together—we can guide Artificial Intelligence towards a future that serves the good of humanity as a whole.
I am sure that thanks to all the distinguished panelists that are joining us today, there will be a fruitful discussion of these interesting subjects, with a view to achieving a clearer perspective of the issues at stake. In this opening session, we will also have the pleasure to listen to the inspiring speech by the Italian Undersecretary of State, Alberto Barachini.
Thank you very much for your attention.
