Italian President Urges Urgent Limits on Uncontrolled AI Use

A call for urgent measures

Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday called for swift action against the 'improper and uncontrolled' use of artificial intelligence, Anadolu reports citing local media. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Festival of Regions, he said, according to the ANSA agency: 'We must act quickly and effectively to prevent the improper and uncontrolled use' of artificial intelligence.

Regulation and the risks of disinformation

Mattarella stressed the need to develop and implement appropriate regulation. He also noted that it is already evident how the manipulation of information, including the spread of fake news using the capabilities of the internet, can influence public opinion and shape its views and choices.

Warning about loss of control

The President warned of the risk of losing control over technological processes as models are developed through machine learning. In his words, it is necessary to 'slow down the increasingly intense competition among a limited number of players, with results that science is currently unable to predict.' Mattarella added that if we limit ourselves to the role of observers of the expansion of computing power in all directions, 'the fundamental values of the centrality of human life and, at the same time, our democracy may be undermined'.

Significance of the statement

The head of state's statement touches on issues that concern both Italian society and the global discussion on AI governance: according to Mattarella, this concerns the impact of technology on public opinion and democratic processes. The practical implication that follows from his speech is a course toward developing and implementing AI regulation, as well as a call to restrain competition among a limited number of players in this field. Editorial comment: the statement is programmatic in nature, and no specific legislative steps are reported in the publication.