AI in the spotlight: SDA Bocconi takes the stage at the Artificial Intelligence Festival

SDA Bocconi has confirmed its position as a leading business school, being at the forefront of innovation by participating in the AI Festival, an international event that focuses on artificial intelligence.

The School played a dual role as a content provider, featuring presentations from its researchers, and as a knowledge disseminator, being a partner of the event alongside other Bocconi ecosystem actors: the University, the B4i incubator, and the publishing house EGEA.

AI in Healthcare: between innovation and prudence

In the first session focused on AI in the healthcare sector, Patrizio Armeni and Lorenzo Diaferia — respectively Associate Professor of Practice and Lecturer at SDA Bocconi School of Management, and researchers at the LIFT Lab, the SDA laboratory dealing with the convergence of life sciences and digital technologies — provided insights into the complex transition from theoretical models to concrete AI applications in healthcare. They highlighted the gap between ideas and practical implementation, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach that combines innovation with a careful management of risks associated with the adoption of these technologies. The LIFT Radar approach was also introduced, aiming to support the evaluation and potential adoption of technological applications, providing a reasoning framework that helps identify surmountable barriers to facilitate the transition from 'idea' to 'implementation.'

Beyond the hype: an informed path to AI

Lorenzo Diaferia, Lecturer at SDA Bocconi and researcher at the DEVO Lab, SDA Bocconi's laboratory studying the evolution of digital technologies and their business applications, addressed the hype surrounding AI. He proposed a post-digital view that transcends the dichotomies between uncritical enthusiasm and unfounded fears. The goal of this approach is to pragmatically realize concrete business value from AI use, beyond the logic of trends. The discussion emphasized the importance of an informed, critical, and strategically oriented approach for companies aiming to navigate successfully in today's digital landscape. To put this post-digital approach into practice, both technical fundamentals and a systematic, well-established approach to monitor the match between technological possibilities and business needs are crucial. This should lead to tools and work methods that allow rapid prototyping and subsequent scaling, all framed within a governance mechanism of technology that can manage risks and the potential impact from a legal and corporate responsibility perspective.

Future perspectives: AI and fintech

The financial sector, with a particular focus on fintech, was analyzed by Gimede Gigante, Director of ICE, the Innovation and Corporate Entrepreneurship Center of SDA Bocconi, which launched the new European Financial Services Tech Hub in Milan this year. Together with Andrea Ferretti, Markets & Business Development Leader for Financial Services at EY, and Alessandro La Pergola, COO of Banca Progetto, both partners of the new Hub, they investigated how AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies are redefining market dynamics. This discussion highlighted the evolution in business models and growth strategies, emphasizing the need to create a collaborative relationship between banks, fintech, and AI in a market where technological innovation will act as a catalyst for sustainable development and personalized services.

The AI Festival has proven to be an essential meeting point for those interested in the current and future dynamics of artificial intelligence. With its contributions, SDA Bocconi played a leading role in facilitating in-depth and constructive dialogue on AI, highlighting emerging trends and strategies for an effective and responsible implementation of AI technologies in the global socioeconomic context.