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• Agenda Digitale, published on March 21st, 2025

By Pierluigi Casale (Associate Professor and Area Chair in AI of OPIT, Open Institute of Technology)

AI is revolutionizing institutions and education, but also our daily lives, improving decision-making and energy efficiency, city management, and personalizing learning. Current choices will determine the future of this technology, which must remain a support for humans and not an uncontrolled substitute.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now at the center of a global debate that touches on regulatory, ethical, geopolitical and applicative aspects. Its evolution, from an experimental technology to an essential tool for analysis and automation, has led to the need for a clear regulatory framework and responsible use.

In my role as an official of the European Parliament, I work on the implementation and oversight of AI systems within the European institutions, contributing to the regulation and management of the challenges that this technology brings. It is important to underline that this article represents only my personal opinion and in no way represents an official position of the European Parliament.

Europe and the regulation of artificial intelligence

Europe is tackling the challenge of regulating AI with the AI ​​Act Regulation, the first comprehensive framework for this instrument. The aim is to find a balance between innovation and the protection of fundamental rights, preventing big tech companies from shaping legislation to their advantage.

• Agenda Digitale

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• Il Sole 24 Ore, published on March 24th, 2025

Just two years after its launch, the online and European-accredited academic institution, whose rector is former minister Francesco Profumo, confirms its growth with over 300 students from 78 countries and an international faculty of excellence.

OPIT (Open Institute of Technology), the European accredited academic institution (www.opit.com), has achieved its first milestone since it entered the higher education market in 2023: 40 students from 6 continents have completed the first master’s degree in Applied Data Science & AI, whose classes began in September two years ago.

The graduation ceremony took place at the central Casino Maltese in Valletta, Malta, where OPIT is regularly accredited, in the presence of Francesco Profumo and Riccardo Ocleppo, respectively Rector and founder, the Maltese Minister Clifton Grima (Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation), and Rose Anne Cuschieri, CEO of the MFHEA authority. In addition to the graduates, the guests included some of the internationally renowned professors of the academic institution, such as Pierluigi Casale, Tomislav Vazdar, Art Sedighi and Francesco Derchi.

The students’ thesis projects have developed on innovative topics: the use of large language models for the creation of chatbots in the ed-tech field, the digitalization of customer support processes in the paper and non-woven industry, up to personal data protection systems and the use of Artificial Intelligence for environmental sustainability, predictive models for the prevention of disasters linked to climate change, the fight against money laundering, new perspectives of generative AI in the legal field (with a focus on Italian startups such as Giurimatrix). All of this has also been developed thanks to the launch of strategic collaborations with partner companies such as Neperia, Sintica, Cosmico, Dylog, Buffetti Finance and Hype, demonstrating the concrete approach and strong practical component that characterize the OPIT training experience.

“Today we celebrate the first chapter of a journey that will continue to grow with a consolidation of the current educational offering, new courses, doctoral programs, applied research and increasingly advanced training opportunities. We are only at the beginning, but this day demonstrates that OPIT is already a consolidated reality in the international academic panorama and a point of reference for those who want to be protagonists of the digital future” – declared the Rector Francesco Profumo.

With two degrees already started in September 2023 – a three-year degree in Modern Computer Science and the aforementioned master’s degree in Applied Data Science & AI – and four more starting in September 2024 (a three-year degree in Digital Business, and the master’s degrees in Enterprise Cybersecurity, Applied Digital Business and Responsible Artificial Intelligence, which brings the total offer to 6 degrees), today OPIT is a point of reference for those who intend to take on the challenges of a job market increasingly oriented towards artificial intelligence and technology in the broad sense. Entirely in English and online, OPIT is enhanced by a high-profile international teaching staff, coming from leading universities and companies at a global level: 45 professors with international experience in both the academic and business worlds. Many of them have collaborated with Amazon, the European Parliament, NASA, Philips and numerous other leading companies, demonstrating the approach based on excellence that the institution has pursued since its foundation.

As part of the development roadmap, OPIT is completing the evolution of its educational offering. Alongside the training programs already underway, 2025 will also be the year in which the research area will develop, paving the way, in the coming years, for doctoral programs and aligning itself even more with what universities around the world are already doing. In particular, OPIT has already started applied research projects with some companies on the topics on which its teaching is based: AI, computer science, cloud computing and cyber security. This year, a pre-degree Foundation Program will also be introduced, designed to provide solid academic foundations to aspiring students who do not meet the admission requirements for three-year degrees.

• Il Sole 24 Ore

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• La Stampa, published on March 11th, 2025

By Francesco Profumo

Education must therefore change its paradigm: from a system based on the accumulation of knowledge to a process that teaches how to think.

We live in an era in which access to information has become immediate and unlimited. All it takes is an internet search or a question to a virtual assistant to get answers on any topic. Yet, precisely in a world so saturated with data, a crucial challenge for education emerges: it is no longer enough to teach what to know, but it becomes essential to educate in critical thinking, in the ability to discern, connect and, above all, ask the right questions. After Trump’s election as President of the United States, this need to be able to discern between true and false has become even more important and starting to educate the new generations and re-educate the more mature ones along these lines can no longer be postponed over time.

Until a few decades ago, the value of education was linked to the acquisition of knowledge. Studying meant accumulating notions, mastering facts and concepts and then applying them. Today, however, the context has completely changed. Information is available everywhere, often in real time. The problem is no longer finding it, but understanding which is reliable, which has value and which is, instead, the result of distortions or manipulations. This transformation leads us to radically rethink the educational model: school can no longer be a simple place for transmitting knowledge, but must become an environment in which one learns to reason.

To achieve this, we can look at an ancient and ever-present approach: the Socratic method. Socrates did not give answers, but guided his interlocutors in the search for truth through continuous dialogue. With pressing questions, he pushed them to reflect on their beliefs, to question apparent certainties and to build a more solid and profound understanding of reality. This method, based on maieutics, did not simply transmit notions, but developed a mental attitude: the ability to question, to doubt, to explore with a critical spirit. Today, more than ever, we need to recover this attitude. In a world where technology presents us with a continuous flow of information and artificial intelligence promises to answer all our doubts, what really matters is how we formulate our questions. Knowing how to question reality becomes more important than the simple act of receiving an answer. The advent of artificial intelligence is accelerating the need for an education based on reflection and not on the mere acquisition of data. AI systems can generate texts, solve problems, propose analyses. But those who learn to use them without developing critical thinking risk becoming passive users, unable to distinguish between what is true and what is manipulated, between what is useful and what is irrelevant.

For this reason, the school of the future should transform itself into a laboratory of thought, where students are no longer evaluated only on the basis of the answers they provide, but on the quality of the questions they are able to ask. An education based on the Socratic method could be expressed through lessons focused on comparison, on the critical analysis of sources, on discussions that push students to defend or question different positions. Let’s imagine a classroom in which students do not limit themselves to studying notions, but are guided to explore a topic through open and challenging questions. Instead of explaining a phenomenon, the teacher could start a discussion, encouraging students to think about its causes, its implications, and its connections with other disciplines. Artificial intelligence could also become an active learning tool: not as a simple provider of answers, but as an interlocutor to interact with, to whom to submit increasingly sophisticated questions, experimenting with how the quality of interaction depends on the ability to formulate complex and well-structured questions.

Education must therefore change its paradigm: from a system based on the accumulation of knowledge to a process that teaches how to think. We must train students who are capable of navigating knowledge, not just storing it. In a future where work itself will be increasingly based on the ability to innovate, connect ideas and solve complex problems, these skills will be essential. The great educational challenge of the coming years will no longer be to teach notions, but to cultivate the ability to question the world. The question we must ask ourselves today is not only what we must teach our children, but how we can educate them to think critically and creatively. If we want the new generations to be truly ready to face the era of artificial intelligence, we must offer them something that no machine will ever be able to replace: the ability to ask questions that matter.

• La Stampa

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• Avvenire, published on March 20th, 2025

Diploma to the first 40 students of OPIT, Open Institute of Technology. Rector Profumo: “It is the first chapter of a path of continuous growth with new courses”

First graduates from OPIT (Open Institute of Technology), an exclusively online academic institution accredited at European level based in the Maltese capital Valletta. At the end of a study program that began in September 2023, 40 students from 6 continents have obtained a master’s degree in Applied Data Science & AI. The topics chosen for the theses are innovative: use of large language models for the creation of chatbots in the ed-tech field, digitalization of customer support processes in the paper and non-woven fabric industry, up to personal data protection systems and the use of Artificial Intelligence for environmental sustainability, predictive models for the prevention of disasters linked to climate change, fight against money laundering, new perspectives of generative AI in the legal field (with a focus on Italian startups such as Giurimatrix). The theses were also developed in collaboration with partner companies such as Neperia, Sintica, Cosmico, Dylog, Buffetti Finance and Hype.

“With these 40 graduates we celebrate the first chapter of a path that will continue to grow with a consolidation of the current educational offering, new courses, doctoral programs, applied research and increasingly advanced training opportunities”, underlines the rector of OPIT, Francesco Profumo.

OPIT currently offers six degree courses (a three-year degree in Modern Computer Science, a master’s degree in Applied Data Science & AI, a three-year degree in Digital Business and the master’s degrees in Enterprise Cybersecurity, Digital Business and Innovation and Responsible Artificial Intelligence), with a total catchment area of ​​over 300 students from 78 countries and 6 continents, with an average age of 35. 80% of the enrolled population is represented by working students, destined to double based on projections on the number of students enrolled in degrees starting in 2025. This year, moreover, the research area will also develop, paving the way, in the coming years, for doctoral programs and aligning itself even more with what universities around the world already do.

“The success of this first class of graduates represents a significant milestone for OPIT and confirms our mission: to offer a high-level technological education, accessible globally and able to concretely respond to the needs of a constantly evolving job market”, recalls Riccardo Ocleppo, founder of OPIT.

• Avvenire

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• Times of Malta, published on March 18th, 2025

Ricardo Ocleppo, founder of OPIT.

OPIT’s high-profile international teaching staff have been recruited from some of the best universities in the world, including Tier-1 institutes in the US, UK, Canada, Sweden, France, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Poland, Lebanon, and Spain.

On his part, Ricardo Ocleppo shared his reflections on how OPIT is dedicated to producing graduates who are not only job-ready but also prepared to lead the way in an ever-changing technological landscape.

Both Ocleppo and Profumo say they are on a mission to unlock students’ progress and employment on a global scale by providing high-quality and affordable education – a model based on the need for quality, flexibility, inclusivity, and the acquisition of crucial skills in future-ready sectors such as Artificial Intelligence.

OPIT’s student-centric approach delivers a combination of online learning and interactive discussions within a collaborative environment fostering advancement and innovation, including live lessons, masterclasses, videos, quizzes, exercises, and more internally developed digital content that students can access at any time.

With several students and faculty joining remotely, the ceremony also saw graduates present their capstone projects, many of which exhibit real-world applications of emerging technology.

More information about OPIT is available here.

• Times of Malta

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• Sage

• Sage

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• Reuters, Published on February 10th, 2025.

• Reuters

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• Sheerluxe, Published on January 29th, 2025.

What’s the most important thing business leaders or entrepreneurs need to be aware of?

“Leaders need to accept and understand what AI technology can do. I have lived through the internet boom and the initial AI comeback a decade ago in the form of machine learning. Both of these were waves of change in the IT industry that affected every aspect of our society and our lives. But I’ve never seen such a high speed of adoption as with generative AI. Even though the technology is young and not perfect, it is obvious that it fills a real need for most of us, individuals as well as businesses. Therefore, leaders must educate themselves in AI to learn the truth about its capabilities and risks. Use AI to solve a problem; do not invent a clever solution to a problem no one has. Be aware of the new risks that generative AI introduces, like hallucinations and toxicity, and allow use of AI accordingly for your own customers.” – Zorina Alliata, professor of responsible artificial intelligence, digital business & innovation at OPIT

Which industries do you predict will be most disrupted by AI in the next couple of years?

“The financial industry is always one of the first to adopt new technologies. Financial companies are already using generative AI for document processing, risk assessment, fraud prevention and algorithmic trading. Because of increased computing power, we also see AI growth in healthcare and life sciences for drug discovery and enhanced diagnostic procedures. Retail, education, logistics are also adopting AI at a high pace. Which industries will remain unaffected? None, really. Even in high-touch human professions like nursing, therapy, parenting, AI is a tool that can help. While not replacing the job entirely, the industry will change because the AI tools are changing the way the job is done.” – Zorina 

Are there any new business models emerging due to AI advancements?

“I think we will see more AI-as-a-service (AIaaS) offerings, where AI tools are built on top of large language models and offer specific capabilities. This is an area where there is a lot of innovation, and I’m excited to see this develop further. I already use AIaaS on a daily basis for better writing, research, creating videos and presentations, and code debugging.” – Zorina 

What are the biggest challenges for small businesses and start-ups in adopting AI technologies?

“A big risk is too much enthusiasm and optimism. Generative AI has been adopted at a great speed. When you first try it, it is amazing. It can write a whole paper in seconds. It can explain complex diagrams and concepts. It feels like the trusted assistant you always needed, but it’s important to remember that AI comes with risks. It’s one thing to write an AI service that recommends what movie you should watch next, and another thing to write an AI service that reads your X-ray and diagnoses if you have a tumour. These two applications of AI have very different risk thresholds. You need to plan your AI service or product to be appropriate for use and to minimise the risk for your customer. I’ve also seen start-ups that tried out an idea and are now planning to build a product out of it, without any understanding of what it takes to run AI services at scale. Having best practices implemented, a good operational foundation, governance and a clear operational model are all requisites for running any production systems, especially something as risky and fraught with unknowns as AI products are.” – Zorina 

Which ethical considerations should entrepreneurs keep in mind when integrating AI into their businesses?

“Some considerations when creating your risk strategy for AI include data privacy and security (ensuring responsible collection and use of customer data); transparency (being clear about how AI is used in products or services); fairness and bias (addressing potential biases in AI algorithms); job displacement (considering the impact on employees and planning for transitions); accountability (establishing clear responsibility for AI-driven decisions); and environmental impact (considering the energy consumption of AI systems).” – Zorina

How is AI changing customer expectations?

“Customer expectations have gone up significantly since generative AI enabled better interactions. Customers expect omni-channel communications, immediate responses, and predictive service. For those companies that still have fragmented data in several platforms and lack a cohesive customer journey, the learning curve will be steeper. The good news is, there are a lot of innovations in this area.” – Zorina 

What skills do you think entrepreneurs will need to succeed in an AI-dominated business world?

“Some skills that would be useful include:

• AI literacy: understanding the basics of AI, machine learning and data science.
• Data analysis & interpretation: ability to work with and derive insights from large datasets.
• Strategic thinking: identifying where AI can add value to business processes and products.
• Ethical decision-making: navigating the ethical implications of AI implementation.
• Adaptability & continuous learning: keeping up with rapidly evolving AI technologies.
• Human-AI collaboration: effectively working alongside AI systems.
• Soft skills: creativity, critical thinking, emotional intelligence and leadership will become even more valuable as AI handles more routine tasks.

As a leader, you are not required to write code or figure out the best way to deploy your model, but a high-level understanding of what AI can do will help you have meaningful conversations with your technical team and create AI products that are truly useful.” – Zorina

Finally, how will AI impact the workforce this year?

“There are several studies on this, such as the one the World Economic Forum (WEF) released this month about the status of work and the future of jobs. Some of the highlights are that AI and other technologies will continue to broaden digital access, with a first effect on increased demand for AI and data skills. The number of technology-related roles is the fastest growing, but frontline roles like farmworkers, delivery drivers and construction workers are predicted to see the largest growth. AI has evolved quickly to create images and videos, threatening the jobs of designers and movie producers. It was not what we would have predicted a few years ago. AI has a way of growing in unexpected ways, as we discover new paths of research and innovate ways to use it. I personally think it is hard to predict exactly where AI will go, and what will be the result of automating all routine tasks and behaving closer to humans. One thing we can be sure of is that people who understand AI and know how to use it will benefit from whatever new challenges are coming our way.” – Zorina

Read the full article below:

• Sheerluxe