Luiss Guido Carli officially welcomed about 4,000 new first-year students with the traditional Welcome Ceremony, marking their entry into the university community. The event took place in the Aula Magna on the Viale Pola campus, attended by President Giorgio Fossa, Rector Paolo Boccardelli, and Director General Rita Carisano.

“Starting today, thousands of young men and women are embarking on their university journey at a place—Luiss—where higher education meets the future,” said President Giorgio Fossa, emphasizing Luiss’s role as a bridge between academic excellence, the professional world, and business.

The central theme of the day was Artificial Intelligence, which was explored in terms of its opportunities as well as its ethical and social implications.

Rector Paolo Boccardelli welcomed the first-year students, emphasizing the strategic role of AI: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome our new students, who, starting today, will be tackling the major transformations that are shaping our era. Among these, Luiss is paying particular attention to developments in AI, which offers extraordinary opportunities but also poses significant ethical and social challenges. We are honored to have Professor Paolo Benanti with us starting this academic year. With his significant experience, he will work alongside our team of faculty to provide the university’s students with the best tools and knowledge to navigate the Artificial Intelligence revolution.” 

Paolo Benanti, Chair of the AI Commission for Information at the Prime Minister’s Office, Member of the UN AI Committee, and, as of this year, Associate Professor of Moral Philosophy at Luiss, explored the relationship between innovation and social progress alongside Professor Irene Finocchi, Head of the Department of AI, Data, and Decision Sciences, and Professor Giuseppe Francesco Italiano, Vice-Rector for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Skills.

During the ceremony, new initiatives dedicated to AI were unveiled:

• The “AI4Society” Research Center, led by Professor Italiano, aims to become an international benchmark for the interdisciplinary study of artificial intelligence, with a new hub opening in Milan.
• The “AI Readiness” certificate, a digital badge that attests to graduates' technological skills.
• The AI Handbook, a practical guide for the ethical and responsible use of new technologies, is available to the entire academic community.