IBM, artificial intelligence an ally in the fight against climate change

On May 11, 1997 Deep Blue, IBM’s supercomputer, defeats chess champion Garry Kasparov: for the first time an artificial intelligence surpasses a human mind. 25 years later, algorithms are also mastering human language. “AI can improve our lives, provided we know how to manage risks,” he says Stefano RebattoniCEO of IBM Italy.

Everyone is talking about “generative” AI as a technology destined to change everything. Why?
“IBM has believed in the enormous potential of AI since the 1990s, dealing with it in all its aspects: technological, governance and ethical. A path passed through the development of machine learning and deep learning algorithms, the signing of the Call for the ethical AI desired by the Pontifical Academy for Life, up to the announcement of the new Watsonx platform which combines traditional AI, generative AI and foundational models based on secure datasets, without bias (prejudices, ed) and adhering to the most stringent standards on privacy. The current breakthrough is based precisely on these pre-trained AI models that IBM dedicates to public and private companies, supporting them in pursuing environmental, social and economic sustainability objectives. Let’s think of a “digital for reality” that solves problems concrete and improve everyone’s life”.

The benefits and risks are expected.
“Today we have the opportunity to use data, AI and adequately trained human capital to reduce energy consumption and CO emissions₂ avoid infrastructure collapses and optimize water maintenance, improve separate waste collection, mitigate supply chain bottlenecks and protect strategic information from growing cyber attacks. All real projects, which IBM has already launched with important protagonists such as the Hera Group, Autostrade per l’Italia, the Milanese Metro, Bper, Nexi or Intesa Sanpaolo. But there are also big risks that you should consider. I’m talking about AI programming which, if done without care and respect for the rules, can lead to dangerous distortions. Think of an AI used to select talent in the company where gender or age biases are transferred: it would be disastrous”.

IBM CEO Arvind Krishna said the company would pause hiring 7,800 people whose business could be replaced by AI. Has the impact on employment already arrived?
“He said what those involved in innovation and professional development have known for some time: in the next 5 years, some activities of an extremely repetitive nature and of limited human added value could be carried out by AI. I think the real emergency is another In Italy, faced with youth unemployment of over 22%, we have over a million jobs that we are unable to fill. A paradox that requires the public and private sectors to create synergies. IBM, for example, has started with its partners a free online learning platform, SkillsBuild, which has training courses on cybersecurity, AI and quantum computing”.

Should AI be kept out of schools or integrated into teaching?
“Better to put your head in the sand or teach the conscious use of technology? AI at school could help us find information in real time, be the object of study. A hammer can be used to hang a picture or hurt someone. It is it’s up to us to decide. The new generations must be trained to think, even with the support of technology”.