ING Italia hackathon winners develop more human chatbots.
Mixed teams of one hundred students coordinated by young women from secondary schools in Lazio are at work to overcome biases and prejudices of technology: Liceo scientifico Kennedy, Liceo scientifico Keplero, Liceo classico Russel, IS Pirelli, ITC Emanuela Loi, IIS Tommaso Salvini, and IIS Grassi. They are the protagonists of the "Hello! Are you Speaking with me? Algorithms and Empathy" Hackathon organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and INGITALIA, at RomeCup 2024 for Gen Z. The objective was to use AI to design and develop prototypes of virtual assistants that could meet the needs and expectations of people. The challenge was to design an efficient but more “human” assistance service, a custom-tailored, inclusive, accessible chatbot that could be authentic and gain the trust of clients.
Winners
1st Place: Team SNMP with Project ING Virtual Advisor. Students: Silvia Amodeo - Liceo Classico Russel, Niccolò Cintioli - IIS Salvini, Miriam Rahmaoui - IIS Pirelli, Paolo Terracini - IIS Salvini
2nd Place: Team I Fantastici 4 with Project Un tuffo nel futuro. Students: Beatrice Cocci - Liceo Scientifico Keplero, Christian Graziosi - ITC Emanuela Loi in Nettuno, Claudia Cassoni - IIS Grassi, Christian Ivan Delizo De Leon - IIS Tommaso Salvini.
3rd Place: Team Dats with chatbot Giorgia. Students: Daniele Pompameo - liceo Russel, Tommaso Marsina - ITC Emanuela Loi in Nettuno, Aurora Galli - Liceo Russel, Sofia Mancini - IS Pirelli.
The hackathon was held yesterday (March 21, 10am to 5pm, Room A4 of the University's Engineering Macro Area). The event was introduced by leading figures in the field of innovation and education, including MP Marta Schifone, promoter of the law that established the week of scientific-technological subjects and their respective study programmes; Silvia Colombo, Head of External Communication, Public Affairs & CSR, ING Italia; and Mirta Michilli, Director General, Fondazione Mondo Digitale. The initial discussion, moderated by Celia Guimaraes, set the stage for a constructive debate on the importance of a human approach to technology.
The event ended with the presentation of the projects and the awards ceremony. The jury of experts in the field of technology and innovation included Francesco Amendola, CTO Harpa Group; Pier Paolo Barberini, Commercial Operations Director, Wind Tre; Simona Teresa Chiarello, Head of Contact Centres, ING Italia; Silvia Colombo, Head of External Communication, Public Affairs & CSR, ING Italia; and Paolo Lanari, Head of Innovation, Municipia. The hackathon experience provided students not only with a platform to express their ideas, but also offered food for thought on the evolution of digital services towards greater empathy and inclusion.
The hackathon was organised as part of Project Job Digital Lab – Training to Get Back in Action, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and ING Italia to boost the digital skills of Italian citizens, and in synergy with Programme Coding Girls, conceived to contrast the gender gap in STEM.
