Refectory Hall – “Nilde Iotti” Library of the Chamber of Deputies
In his institutional address, Professor Pier Paolo Maria Menchetti presented the Manifesto of the International Center for Advanced Studies on Artificial Intelligence (CSAIA), outlining a strategic vision of Artificial Intelligence grounded in European governance, data security, global academic cooperation, and the centrality of human knowledge. The speech was delivered within a geopolitical context characterized by divergent regulatory models: on the one hand, synthetic and centralized regulatory approaches; on the other, the European ecosystem built upon principles of fundamental rights protection, personal data protection, and institutional accountability.
The core of the proposal is clear: Artificial Intelligence should not be conceived merely as a technological accelerator or an automation tool, but as a regulated cognitive infrastructure integrated within a solid legal framework and oriented toward the enhancement of human capital. From this perspective, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), adopted in 2016 and applied from 2018, represents not a constraint, but rather a methodological and cultural foundation for the development of reliable, transparent AI systems compliant with European principles of accountability and data protection by design.
The speech emphasized how the CSAIA Manifesto is based on precise operational pillars: data security, responsible analysis and processing of information, interoperability among academic and institutional systems, and the construction of a shared international pathway. Within a global landscape characterized by multiple regulatory models concerning data protection, the European approach was identified as a reference framework for defining human-centric artificial intelligence capable of combining technological innovation with the protection of fundamental rights.
CSAIA proposes itself as an international scientific platform rather than a simple think tank or a place for theoretical debate. Through partnerships with Italian and international universities — including the University of Siena — and collaborations with academic institutions across Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the Center intends to develop a structured model of scientific cooperation. Of particular importance is the direction of the international school “AI Technology and Law” at the Ettore Majorana Foundation, confirming the integration between advanced technological research and legal reflection.
The speech also referred to dialogue with European bodies such as the European Data Protection Board, as well as the involvement of experts in digital healthcare, fintech, and the regulation of technological financial systems. The objective is to translate the principles of the declaration into concrete programs capable of impacting strategic sectors: healthcare, technological finance, data governance, regulatory compliance, and the development of interoperable digital ecosystems.
In terms of strategic positioning, the vision expressed proposes a European AI model based on:
– regulatory compliance (GDPR and EU frameworks);
– cybersecurity and data protection;
– international scientific cooperation;
– integration between law, technology, and institutions;
– practical applicability within healthcare and financial systems.
The Declaration of Intent therefore takes shape as a programmatic document oriented toward implementation, with the aim of serving national and international institutions through a structured scientific pathway. Artificial Intelligence, in Professor Menchetti’s perspective, is not a competition among regulatory models, but a shared project requiring responsibility, geopolitical dialogue, and regulatory solidity.
The CSAIA Manifesto therefore proposes itself as an international hub for the development of ethical, regulated, and operational Artificial Intelligence models capable of connecting universities, European institutions, research centers, and strategic stakeholders within a digital ecosystem founded on transparency, security, and global cooperation.
