Artificial Intelligence in Varese: culture, curiosity and future on the stage of Sala Montanari

Last night Sala Montanari in Varese hosted a special event dedicated to artificial intelligence, promoted by ARTandCHARITY O.D.V., with the patronage of the Municipality and Province of Varese and the support of local organizations. Over one hundred and forty participants experienced two intense hours, with explanations, live experiments, and interactive moments, in a meeting that managed to combine scientific rigor and lightness, culture and fun.

On stage Francesco Zecchini, with direction by Pietro Floreno, introduced and guided the speakers Marco Carrara, chief operating officer of Runelab, and Daniele Spera, developer in collaboration with an American software house. From the very beginning, the organizers made it clear that the purpose of the meeting was not to scare, but to provide tools to understand and approach this constantly evolving technology. Francesco Zecchini recalled November 30, 2022, the date of the public release of ChatGPT 3.5, calling it the beginning of a true cognitive revolution: a momentous change that opened new horizons for creativity, work, and everyday life.

ARTandCHARITY president, Giovanni Tommasi, reminded the audience of the association's goals and its intense activity in the area, emphasizing the value of culture as a lever for solidarity and inclusion. 

Provincial Councillor Michele Di Toro brought greetings from the Province of Varese, highlighting how training and awareness are essential tools to face the challenges of the digital future.

Finally, Giorgio Paglini, president of Paglini Spa - Renault dealership in Varese, spoke about how important it is to be present and support cultural events in the area and how technology and innovation, such as AI, can become concrete opportunities, improve processes, services, and results, and invited everyone to face change with curiosity and openness.

Practice, games, and reflections

The evening then continued with practical demonstrations and moments of interaction: the audience was able to observe virtual assistants reading bills, intelligent agents organizing trips, and even generating images and texts instantly. The key word of the evening was “awareness”: understanding how to use AI, without fear, and preparing for a world where technology increasingly accompanies daily activities.

Among the most entertaining moments, the interactive quiz challenged the audience to distinguish real images from those created artificially, highlighting the importance of training the eye for fact-checking even in an era of increasingly sophisticated digital content.

The final questions touched on platforms, video, school, and healthcare, and the answers reiterated a key message: curiosity and awareness are needed more than fear. To a young spectator who asked for advice for her daughter interested in studying AI, Spera replied: “Follow what she is passionate about. Curiosity and the desire to keep learning will always be the best calling card.”

The closing was entrusted to a synthetic voice, which poetically reminded: “I can process data, but I cannot feel love. That belongs only to you. Intelligence can be artificial, humanity cannot.”

An evening that combined technology, culture, and heart, leaving participants with the feeling of having taken a further step toward understanding the present and digital future.