RomeCup 2025, Alfonso Molina's concept note calls for technology to be directed towards the common good
In a time marked by multiple crises and profound transformations, Alfonso Molina offers a visionary yet concrete reflection on the role of technology in society. In his concept note for RomeCup 2025, the founder and scientific director of the Fondazione Mondo Digitale relaunches the need for a convergence of intelligences – human, artificial and collective – to restore hope to the younger generations and direct innovation towards shared values, social justice and integral well-being.
Restoring hope through the convergence of intelligences
We live in an era marked by complex transitions and technological accelerations that raise new questions about the meaning of humanity and the possibilities for truly inclusive development. Artificial intelligence and robotics, if guided by shared values, can become instruments of hope, especially for the younger generations, promoting the holistic well-being of people, communities and the planet. RomeCup 2025 takes up this challenge, offering itself as a space for convergence between intelligences – human, artificial and collective – with a transformative vision.
The 18th edition, in conjunction with the cultural programme of the Jubilee 2025, is inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis on the ‘techno-human’ condition, recalling the need for an integral view of the person and the community. In a time marked by a loss of trust, RomeCup offers itself as a realistic utopia: a confident affirmation of the human capacity to build a better future, capable of combining technology and care, innovation and social justice. In this sense, RomeCup is not just an event, but a collective laboratory that activates participatory processes between young people, experts, researchers, businesses and institutions to regenerate trust and imagine together new trajectories for a shared future, where technology is at the service of human dignity and social justice.
The socio-technical challenge
Technological acceleration makes it urgent to reflect systematically on the social challenges to be addressed, as well as the technological ones. A systemic socio-technical action that is capable of producing value for all, without exception. The inaugural conference focuses on the themes of sustainability, ethics, equity and governance of artificial intelligence. The question is not only ‘What can AI do?’, but ‘How can AI be put at the service of human development and collective well-being?’. The most important human activities, such as justice, health, education and relationships, require discernment and responsibility, not mere efficiency.
At a time when technology risks becoming the exclusive domain of a few, RomeCup promotes a shared vision that intertwines scientific and humanistic knowledge, values dialogue between disciplines and recognises active and informed citizenship as the compass for guiding innovation towards ethical, inclusive and democratic choices. A key moment of the event is the discussion between the signatories of the Manifesto for Collective Action on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale. One year after its publication, the Manifesto continues to be a platform for shared commitment, guiding public strategies and concrete actions for a more just, transparent and inclusive technology.
An ecosystem in motion: education, research, business
Since 2007, the RomeCup has been a point of reference for guidance and training in the STEM field. The 2025 edition strengthens the synergy between schools, universities, research centres and companies, promoting not only technological excellence but also the social responsibility of innovation. Through hackathons, business challenges, creative contests, educational workshops and awards, RomeCup becomes a space for ‘capacitation’ (A. Sen) for students, teachers and entrepreneurs, recognising and valuing their role in designing desirable futures. The third edition of the ‘Most Promising Researcher in Robotics & AI’ award also highlights the deep link between scientific research and cultural regeneration, giving visibility and value to young researchers working for innovation in the service of the common good.
From event to transition: a transformative platform
RomeCup is an event that becomes a platform, a social infrastructure for generating new spaces for shared governance, new metrics and new paradigms. The activities do not end with the three days of the event, but activate educational pathways, territorial networks and communities of practice capable of continuing to generate impact. We are convinced that only through generative alliances, shared visions and fairer rules of the game will it be possible to inhabit the transition. RomeCup 2025 is an invitation to bet on the future: by bringing together knowledge and responsibility, technology and care, we can navigate change with courage and intelligence. It is an opportunity to rethink society based on its possibilities, restoring the centrality of the human being even in the age of artificial intelligence.
