On 6 November 2026, Gianna Angelini, AANT’s Scientific Director and Head of the International Office, spoke at the New Technologies and Ethics conference at Palazzo Valentini in Rome. Organised by the Metropolitan City of Rome Capital in collaboration with AANT and other institutions, the conference opened with remarks from Metropolitan Councillor Alessia Pieretti. The discussion focused on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence for everyday life, relationships and learning.
In her talk, ‘The Responsibility to Imagine. Creativity, Education and Generative AI’, Angelini drew on research and teaching in art and design. When generative systems suggest images and stories in the early stages of a project, they can shape what designers see as possible. At this point, friction can play an ethical role in the creative process. Pausing to examine a suggestion, questioning its assumptions and reframing the original question are practical ways for designers to exercise judgement and take responsibility for their decisions.
Alessio Gallina, who teaches Theory of Perception and Psychology of Form at AANT, also spoke at the conference. His talk explored the cognitive and neurophysiological processes involved in conversations with generative AI, including how we come to attribute intentions to a conversational system.
These questions also inform the work of geniaLAB, AANT’s transdisciplinary research hub coordinated by Angelini. Its first annual forum, hosted by the Academy on 23 and 24 October, examined how art and design education can help students develop independent judgement when working with AI.