Lugano AI Week 2025

The event is primarily held in Italian. Some sessions will be in English, and these are indicated in the program.‍

A day dedicated to new man-machine creative processes, with workshops on content generation and panels on copyright. In the evening, inauguration of an exhibition of works created with AI.

Does artificial intelligence replace creativity or extend it? The first day of AI Week explores how AI is becoming a new creative studio, where art, industry and technology meet to generate ideas, images and languages.

Atrium
‍Main Panels - A day to understand — and try — how to build, invent and experiment with generative tools, between media, business and artistic experimentation. Visions, stories from the future of production and workshops and workshops.

‍Room 4 - Workshops
A practical space dedicated to those who want to get their hands dirty with AI: prompts, visuals, coding and sound in short, high-impact sessions.

Room 2 - Prompt Battle
Turn your ideas into reality in a series of adrenaline-pumping rounds in which you can test your creativity between images, sounds, videos and unexplored frontiers.

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Register here (choose the moments that interest you most from the following proposals)

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FULL PROGRAM

08:30 — Doors open

09:00 – 09: 05 — Main stage

Opening & Welcome‍

With Michele Foletti, Mayor of Lugano

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09:05-12:30 — Main stage - Workshop

Experience & Vision: Creative processes and experimentation with AI

Speaker: Felix A. Bachman, Kevin Merz, Artur Schmidt (Generative Center)

Free admission subject to availability
Language: Italian

An intensive workshop dedicated to exploring how generative AI is transforming creative and productive processes. The Generative Center will guide participants through workflows, methods and real cases, with collective exercises and moments of discussion on languages, tools, opportunities and limitations of AI in the creative and professional fields.

The session includes contributions from three guests who will bring practical and interdisciplinary perspectives:
- Markus Schnabel — open source AI workflow in the design of mobility products
- Manuela Bernasconi — body prompting and the relationship between body, gesture and generation
- Gionata Zanetta — creative processes and musical production with AI

An opportunity to acquire operational skills, critical vision and new tools to integrate artificial intelligence into one's creative practice.

More info here

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09:05 - 10:30 — Room 4 - Workshop (FULL)

AI and generation of marketing strategies and content: methods, tools and automations for the multiplatform application

Speaker: Gaetano Biondo (LinkFloyd)‍

‍‍Required registration: FULL
Language: Italian

Practical workshop on the use of artificial intelligence to revolutionize the creation of marketing strategies and content. Participants will learn how to use generative AI tools to develop data-driven strategies, create optimized multichannel content and automate creative workflows, while maintaining brand consistency. Through concrete examples and live demonstrations, the workshop provides an operational framework for integrating AI into the creative process, addressing issues such as prompt engineering and quality control. The event is ideal for marketing managers, content creators, social media managers and copywriters who want to boost their creative productivity without losing brand authenticity.

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11:00 - 12:30 — Room 4 - Workshop (FULL)

Vibe Coding

‍Required registration: FULL

Speaker: Alin Bolboaca, Agentic AI & Performance Marketing Solutions Developer, LinkFloyd

A hands-on workshop dedicated to the fundamentals of AI-assisted development, from the initial idea to a working version. Participants will learn how to structure AI-assisted development workflows, write and optimize code with the support of generative models, integrate libraries and APIs, manage project logic, and apply vibe-coding principles to maintain coherence and quality in functions and documentation.

Through concrete examples using Cursor and Python, guided debugging, and live demonstrations, the workshop will offer an operational framework to accelerate development work, reduce errors, and effectively implement AI-ready components.

The event is ideal for junior developers, technical marketers, digital creators, enthusiasts, and professionals who want to quickly start building intelligent applications.

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13:30-14:00 — Main Stage - Speech

AI in the media industry; how AI is transforming cinema, TV and news: examples, trends and real cases

‍Speaker: Axel M. Fiacco, Media expert - Teacher (Format Espresso)

Free entry subject to availability
Language: Italian

Artificial Intelligence is redefining the processes of creation, production and distribution of audiovisual content in a radical and irreversible way. In this speech, it will be told in a precise but accessible way to everyone in what ways and at what levels this transformation is taking place, which is more complex and profound than is commonly believed. In this regard, concrete examples will be shown (video), taken from the international scene, of how AI has already entered the world of unscripted (format), scripted (fiction), factual, docu and even in news around the world.

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13:30 - 17:00 — Room 4 - Workshop (FULL)

Imagine, create, animate. From the idea to the animated clip, through GenAI

Speaker: Katya Vettorello, Visual Artist & GenAI Creative Designer //Senior Graphic Designer & Image Editing Expert

Language: Italian
‍Required registration: FULL
‍We suggest bringing your charged laptop

An immersive workshop to explore how an idea can transform into a surprising visual output — static or animated — ready to be shared on social media or added to a personal portfolio.
In the first part of the workshop, we’ll walk through a simple yet powerful workflow that moves through artificial intelligence, principles of visual composition, design fundamentals and photography basics. All essential elements for crafting and generating effective, impactful visual content
In the second part, laptop in hand, we’ll create an animated clip together, integrating what we’ve learned and experimenting with AI tools.
From defining the concept to the final format, the entire journey is designed for those who want to integrate AI into their creative process — whether for professional needs or simply for fun. An experience open to everyone, blending experimentation and enjoyment, to truly understand how GenAI can become a creative ally in the realization and development of a visual project.

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14:00-14:25 — Main Stage - Speech

Making Sense of AI-Generated Images in Media (ENG)

Free entry subject to availability

Speakers:

Satomi Sugiyama (Professor of Communication and Media Studies) ansd Charles Burke (Associate Professor of Data Science), Franklin University Switzerland

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Speech in English -In our contemporary media-saturated everyday life, we are constantly bombarded by visual images. As an increasing volume of media images are created with the aid of AI programs - from digital twins of human models and AI-generated fashion models in advertising campaigns to images created in the style of Hayao Miyazaki - the appearance of AI-generated content in media sparks heated discussions about cultural and ethical consequences, as well as the sustainability of the creative industry.

This talk presents findings from two research studies conducted between 2024-2025, involving over 200 participants, exploring how we can make sense of AI in art and creativity. Through an interactive format, we'll reflect how AI is redefining creative boundaries and what factors can ensure productive and responsible use of these technologies, with special focus on fashion and lifestyle sectors.

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14:25-14:45 — Main Stage - Speech

When AI Meets Storytelling: Moral Maps of Global TV Series

Speaker: Valentina Rotondi, Professor at Supsi and Associate Researcher at Oxford

Language: Italian
Free entry subject to availability

TV series are not just entertainment: they are mirrors of society and at the same time engines of cultural change. But what values, norms and moral dimensions do they really convey? In this speech I will show how Artificial Intelligence can analyze thousands of screenplays to extract what I define as Narrative Capital: the heritage of values and moral narratives that cross cultures. Through NLP techniques and advanced language models, we will explore how the stories we watch every day help to shape trust, social relationships and worldviews.

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14:45-15:10 — Main Stage - Speech

Designing consistency in an interconnected world: the AI framework that combines digital, physical and brand identity.

Speaker: Alex Cascarano, Design Director (Sketchin) ‍ ‍

Language: Italian
Free admission subject to availability

Today, design faces an unprecedented challenge: managing the complexity of a world where every touchpoint, from digital to physical space, is interconnected. The Connected Design System emerges as a response: a holistic framework that goes beyond individual products to combine digital, physical and brand identity in a single coherent and dynamic language. This session explores how artificial intelligence evolves from a simple tool to a true coordination infrastructure, able to orchestrate languages, rules and design decisions across different scales and platforms. We will discover how to design no longer just isolated objects or interfaces, but adaptive ecosystems and living relationships between people, spaces and technologies. The focus moves from 'what' is created to 'how' everything interconnects, transforming design into a connective discipline fundamental to navigating the continuous transformation of the environments we inhabit.

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15.10-15.30 — Main Stage - Speech

From Words to Meaning: How AI Is Revolutionizing Content Search at RSI

Speakers:
Massimiliano Babbucci, Head of Digital Innovation, CSR
Michele Cocca, Researcher, SUPSI

Language: Italian
Free admission subject to availability

Keyword-based searches only find what exactly matches the terms typed in. But what if the content we’re looking for uses different words to express the same idea? Semantic search overcomes this limitation: it goes beyond the words themselves and understands their meaning. Thanks to artificial intelligence and natural language processing, RSI is transforming its archives into a smarter discovery space, where texts, audio, and video can be found in a more natural, intuitive, and accurate way.
In this talk, we will explore how semantic search enhances RSI’s multimedia heritage by improving access to textual and multimedia content.

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15:45–16:05 — Main Stage – Talk

Augmented Creativity: How AI is Revolutionizing Content Strategy

Speaker: Saverio Russo, Cofounder (MI EXPERIENCE)
Language: Italian
Free entry until full

Artificial intelligence is transforming content strategy, changing not only what we create but how we create it. AI allows the production of high-impact visual content—animations, realistic scenarios, avatars, simulated shoots—faster and at lower cost. In this talk, I will explore how to hybridize human creativity and AI tools to build an “invisible production,” where ideas matter more than means, through concrete examples, real cases, and replicable operational models.

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16:05–16:30 — Main Stage – Talk

Creating with AI without Being Created by AI: Maintaining Your Artistic Soul While Embracing the Most Powerful Tool Ever

Speaker: Yuri Catania – Visual Artist / Creative Director
Language: Italian
Free entry until full

Yuri Catania, visual artist and creative director, explains how AI has become central to his work since 2022, expanding his language across photography, urban art, and large-scale installations. Through monumental works in Lugano—like Astro Credy on Palazzo Credinvest (500 sqm) and Lugaxy Astro Flowers at Palazzo dei Congressi—he shares an approach integrating AI, 3D, and augmented reality without sacrificing physical identity or analog artistic intention. A journey to understand how to remain the author—and not the tool—in the age of artificial intelligence.

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16:30–16:50 — Main Stage – Talk

The Algorithm and the Artist: Who Owns the Work?

Speaker: Gianvirgilio Cugini, Lawyer at STELVA Group
Language: Italian
Free entry until full

An analysis of human creativity and artificial intelligence. AI creates works of art—but who holds the rights? This talk explores the crucial role of humans in the AI creative process, examining differing positions in international jurisprudence. We will discover why some courts recognize copyright while others do not. An opportunity to understand the legal and ethical challenges ahead, in a world where asking the right questions is more important than ever.

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16:50–17:10 — Main Stage – Talk

Creating Intelligens

Speaker: Ludovica Casalone -Strategy and Innovation @ Carlo Ratti Associati

A reflection on how artificial intelligence can transform design and architecture into reactive and sensitive processes: not only as automation or a tool, but as an expansion of design possibilities — redefining materials, dynamics, and strategies for an architecture that interprets and responds to the environment and its actors.

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17:10–17:30 — Main Stage – Talk

From Prompt to World: How to Stand Out in a Landscape Where Everyone Can Generate Everything

Speaker: Dario Caoduro, Creative Technology Senior Manager, Accenture Song
Language: Italian

‍We will explore how generative AI is transforming the way images, videos, and digital content come to life. From the speed of prompts to building complex worlds, we will analyze how AI levels the creative playing field and why, now more than ever, authenticity and human direction become the true competitive advantage. A concrete and visionary look at authentic creativity in the age of synthetic media.

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17:30–17:45 — Main Stage

AI, Creativity, and Rights: Where Do We Draw the Line?

Speakers:
Anna Picco Schwendener, Senior Researcher at USI and Head of the Competence Center in Digital Law (CCdigitallaw, USI)
Gianfranco Valsecchi, Legal Expert at CCdigitallaw, USI

An interactive activity with the audience to explore scenarios where AI challenges consent, copyright, and creativity. Through live polls and short reflections, we will discover together what changes when identities, styles, and works can be recreated by machines. An opportunity to test your intuition and rethink the boundaries between innovation and rights.

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17:45–18:15 — Main Stage

Closing Round Table

Language: Italian
Moderator: Felix Bachmann
Guests: Various

Live Coverage – Radio Gwen
The panel will be broadcast live by Radio Gwen, an independent cultural web radio from Lugano promoting music, culture, and emerging creative projects. During the event, Radio Gwen will provide live connections and interviews from the Patio, offering a space for storytelling and dialogue with the protagonists of AI Week.

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18:15–19:30

Vernissage

‍A convivial opportunity to close the day with the inauguration of the mini-installation “LocalAI” (1–3 December @ Asilo Ciani).

The exhibition LocalAI explores who Ticino artists are and how they integrate generative AI into their creative processes. Each work arises from the intersection of artistic sensitivity and AI models, opening new perspectives on the human–machine relationship. Photography, visual art, music, sound, and video art intertwine, showcasing a variety of languages.

LocalAI offers insight into the intimate dynamics of creation, revealing approaches, intuitions, and expressive methods that make each artistic journey unique. A collective invitation to explore a new cultural landscape born from the encounter between artistic spirit and technological innovation.

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Room 2 — Prompt Battle

09. 30-17:00

‍Required registration: Sign up here

Turn Your Ideas into Reality in a series of adrenaline-filled rounds that will put your creativity to the test.

Join the competition that challenges both creativity and mastery of artificial intelligence tools! The Prompt Battle is an immersive, full-day contest divided into multiple sessions, where participants and teams will compete across three different creative frontiers.

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First prize: a 40’’ PHILIPS HD LED TV for each category.
Contest Rules

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The categories of the Battle:‍

09:30-11 A.M. - IMAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Digital Visions - Prompt challenge for generating images and Photos

11:00-12:30 - AUDIO
Smart Sounds - Competition in Creation and Manipulation audio

13:30-15:00 - VIDEO
Frame by Frame - Battle for Generation and Editing Videos

15:30-17:00 - VIBE CODING
Beyond the Boundaries — Challenge on cross-disciplinary and innovative vibe-coding themes powered by the versatile Caffeine.ai platform

The Highlight of the Day:

On stage, the winners’ works will be showcased, and the secrets behind their prompts and creative output will be revealed to the audience. A unique opportunity to discover the logic, strategies, and technical and creative processes behind the most innovative creations.

Who is it for:

An event for enthusiasts, creatives, and innovators who want to test their skills, share knowledge, and explore the infinite possibilities of digital generation through AI.Content creators, digital artists, musicians, video makers, and anyone passionate about enhancing and expanding their digital creativity.

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In collaboration with Original, a Swiss company (based in Lugano) specializing in sovereign Artificial Intelligence solutions. It serves as the operational bridge between Artificial Intelligence and traditional IT infrastructure.

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Cleaning Robots in Piazza Castello

From December 1 to 4, an outdoor exhibition of cleaning robots from Alpha Solve Sagl will be on display in Piazza Castello.

The event is primarily held in Italian. Some sessions will be in English, and these are indicated in the program.

A day dedicated to the connection between technology, mental and physical health, active ageing, and new forms of learning.

Experts in neuroscience, psychology, and medicine will explain how AI is contributing to people’s care and, almost paradoxically, to a deeper understanding of the human being.

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Open registrations: register here (choose the moments that interest you most from the following proposals)

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MAIN STAGE

08:30 — Doors open

09:00 — 09:05 | Opening & Welcome

09:05 — 09:20 | Keynote | Trend, experience and design in human technology

How artificial intelligence reveals hidden needs, enabling new forms of continuous and personalized care

Speaker: Davide Zane, Business Development Director, Sketchin

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09:20 — 10:15 | The Augmented Mind‍

How artificial intelligence helps to understand mental processes and emotions, supporting new forms of knowledge and care.

09:20 – 09:35 | Talk
The hybrid mind: between human psyche and artificial intelligence
Prof. Andrea Raballo, Professor of Psychiatry, USI

09:35 – 10:15 | Panel
Mental health, ethics and digital wellbeing
Moderator: Federico Ebneterr, City of Lugano
Speakers:
Joy Bordini, CEO Go Healthy & Co
Prof. Andrea Raballo, Professor of Psychiatry, USI

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‍10:15 — 10:45 | Coffee Break & Networking
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10:45 — 12:45 | Connected Generations ‍

AI and well-being in the digital age, intergenerational perspectives
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10:45 — 11:05 | Talk
The insuperability of the human in education and in relationships
‍Prof. Davide Antognazza, Senior Researcher and Professor, SUPSI
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‍‍11:05 — 11:25 | Talk
AI and people: towards governance that puts well-being at the center
‍Sara Moroni, Fractional COO

11:25 — 11:45 | Talk (IN ENGLISH)
Will AI take our jobs?
Tornike Onoprishvili, Founder, Entwurf.org

11:45 — 12:20 | Panel
Use of AI in adolescence. Return of the experiential workshop carried out with the students.
Moderator: Elena Marchiori, Project Manager, Lugano Living Lab - City of Lugano
Intervene:
Silvia Misiti, Director, IBSA Foundation for Scientific Research
Dario Gennari, Psicologo e psicoterapeuta, Rete Operativa
Alberto Termine, Senior Researcher, IDSIA USI-SUPSI
Francesca Mangili, Senior Researcher, IDSIA USI-SUPSI
Valeria Doratiotto Prinsi, Direttrice e Docente, Liceo Lugano 1

12:20 — 12:45 | Talk
Adolescents between hyperconnection and loneliness
Dario Gennari, Psicologo e psicoterapeuta, Rete Operativa

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14:00 - 17:00 | Body and Care in the Age of AI

From early diagnosis to rehabilitation, artificial intelligence enters clinical practice as a tool to support the doctor and to form an alliance with the patient. A path between innovation and responsibility to understand how technology can improve the effectiveness of treatment, always remaining under human guidance.

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14:00 — 14:20 | Talk
‍AI and health: barriers, possibilities and new paths to take ‍
Dr. Francesca Faraci, Head of Biomedical Signal Processing Area, SUPSI  

14:20 — 14:40 | Talk
‍Deep... mark that I can hear you! AI to translate sign language ‍
Daniele Raffa, Founder, Handy System Sag

‍14:40 — 15:00 | Talk (IN ENGLISH)
‍Empowering Diabetes Management with AI-Driven Personalized Exercise Guidance
Sam Scott, CEO, Enhance-D

‍15:00 — 15:20 | Talk
‍The role of AI in senology
Dr. Lorenzo Rossi, Head of EOC Medical Oncology Service and Clinical Director of the Senology Center of Italian Switzerland (CSSI)‍

15:20 — 15:40 | Talk
‍Artificial intelligence in family medicine: trust, communication and care
Dr. Serena Petrocchi, Docente e Ricercatrice, Istituto di Medicina di Famiglia, Università della Svizzera italiana‍

‍15:40 — 16:00 | Coffee Break & Networking‍

16:00 — 16:40 | Panel
‍The role of AI in health and well-being: will we live longer and better?
Moderator: Federico Ebneter, City of Lugano

Speakers:
Giuseppe Perale, President of Swiss Medtec Ticino
Dr. Francesca Faraci, Head of Biomedical Signal Processing Area, SUPSI
Prof. Dr. med. Alessandro Ceschi, Capo Area Formazione medica e Ricerca, AFRi, direzione generale EOC

16:40 – 17:00 | Talk
Beyond On-Premise: Confidential AI for Healthcare at Scale
Marco Argentieri, Co-founder Prem AI

Parallel Session (ROOM 4) | Education and learning in the age of AI

09:30 — 11:30 | Workshop with L*3 IBSA Foundation for Scientific Research, IDSIA and L*3
Experiential workshop for teenagers dedicated to well-being and digital citizenship.
Workshop for students (upon registration)

14:00 — 14:20 | Talk
School and artificial intelligence: driving change without losing learning
Prof. Stefano Peduzzi, Professor and Researcher, SUPSI

14:20 — 14:40 | Talk
AI in the studio: real data, stories and the future of learning
Isaia Piazzoli, Founder, Edurocket SRL

14:40 — 15:00 | Talk
Literature and language learning with AI
Prof. Luca Botturi, Professor and Researcher, SUPSI
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15:00 — 15:20 | Talk
When AI speaks languages: the future of learning with Berlitz
Jennifer Mininno, Regional Director, Berlitz

15:20 — 15:40 | Talk
Young minds and artificial intelligence: how to teach the future, today
Derval Anne O'Neill, Founder, CodeNG

16:00 — 17:00 | Workshop (upon registration)
AI and us: experimentation and critical reflection‍

In order to decide what role to assign to AI, we also need to understand its limitations. We will try to highlight these through a series of interactive activities designed to stimulate critical reflection on technological developments.
Alessio Lavio e Janos Cont, L’ideatorio USI

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Mini-Installation “LocalAI”

‍From December 1 to 3, inside the Asilo Ciani, visitors can explore the mini-installation LocalAI, an exhibition showcasing how artists from Ticino integrate generative artificial intelligence into their creative processes through works that blend photography, visual arts, music, sound, and video art.

‍Cleaning Robots in Piazza Castello

‍From December 1 to 4, in Piazza Castello, there will be an outdoor display of cleaning robots presented by Alpha Solve Sagl.

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The event is primarily held in Italian. Some sessions will be in English, and these are indicated in the program.

Open registrations: register here (choose the moments that interest you most from the following proposals)

08:30 | Doors open

08:55 — 09:00 | Opening & Welcome

09:00 - 12:00 | Robotics, work and trust

Humans and machines: who works for whom? How does the relationship between human beings and machines change when artificial intelligence takes physical form? AI is no longer just software, but a concrete presence. From human-machine collaboration to trust in automation, a reflection on how we can remain at the center of a world populated by intelligent systems.‍

09:0 — 09:20 | Talk
Touching AI: the material side of the digital and what it means for us
Gabriele Balbi, Professor in Media Studies, USI 

09:20 — 09:45 | Talk
Machines that learn: how did AIs get so good? ‍
Alberto Termine, IDSIA USI-SUPSI Researcher

‍‍09:45 — 10:10 | Talk
Robotics, AI and work: are we ready to trust? ‍
Stefano Baraldo, Senior Researcher and Teacher, SUPSI

10:10 — 10:30 | Talk
Silent servants or companions along the way? Science fiction’s imagined robots
Pietro Montorfani, Direttore, Biblioteca Salita dei Frati Lugano
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‍10:30 — 10:45 | Coffee Break & Interaction with Robots

10:45 — 12:00 | Live Demo Robots in action

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From robotic quadrupeds to exoskeletons and limb-equipped robots, AI literally comes to life on the stage of the AI Week in Lugano. Several robots will be present in person, and the audience will be able to interact with them, experiencing firsthand how these technologies amplify human abilities, movements, and possibilities.
Moderators: Anna Picco Schwendener, Ricercatrice Senior USI e responsabile Competence Center in Digital Law (CCdigitallaw) and Gianfranco Valsecchi, legal expert at CCdigitallaw
Speakers:
Antonio Paolillo, Ricercatore senior SUPSI, IDSIA USI-SUPSI
Loris Roveda, Associate Professor SUPSI, IDSIA USI-SUPSI e Politecnico di Milano, Mechanical Department
Alessio Lavio e Janos Cont, L’ideatorio USI
Stefano Baraldo, Ricercatore Senior e Docente, SUPSI
Didier Gaberell, Ceo, AlphaSolve Sagl

13:30 — 15:45 | Algorithms and power: who writes the rules of the digital world

‍A journey through the global map of AI: from the geopolitical dimension to the urban dimension, from the civic perspective to the economic and market perspective.
Moderation: Generoso Chiaradonna, Caporedattore economia, Corriere del Ticino‍

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13:30 — 15:10 | AI and power: three states, cities, markets, ethics and regulation‍

‍ 13:30 — 13:50 | Talk
AI and geopolitics ‍
Andrea Aguggia, Socio Limes Club
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‍‍‍13:50 — 14:10 | Talk
AI and global balances: how technology redefines markets, power and conflicts ‍
Martina Besana, Analyst, Go-Spa Consulting
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14:10 — 14:30 | Talk
Urban transformations and new forms of citizenship in the digital age
Filippo Bignami, Senior Researcher, SUPSI

14:30 — 14:50 | Talk
Who educates whom? AI learns from you. Always
Nicoletta Iacobacci, AI Ethics Expert, European Commission

14:50 — 15:10 | Talk
The battle for the regulation of artificial intelligence
Marta Soprana, Founder, TradePol Consulting

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15:10 — 15:45 | Panel | AI and power: who's really in charge?‍

Speakers:
Alan Friedman, Journalist and author, political expert
Bruno Giussani, Writer and curator, expert in AI and new technologies
Moderation: Generoso Chiaradonna, Caporedattore economia, Corriere del Ticino‍‍

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‍15:45 – 16:00 | Coffee Break & Networking

16:00 – 17:25 | ‍Our data, our future: the Swiss path to digital trust

Whoever owns the data owns the power. But is it possible to build an alternative, local, and sustainable model? Switzerland is exploring how to ensure trust and transparency in the digital world, between open source, public-private collaboration, and civic participation.

16:00 – 16:45 | Panel
Data sovereignty and digitalization in the age of AI for the city of the future
A discussion with members of the Ethics Committee for the City of Lugano's digital strategy on the significance of an ethical strategy for the city of the future.
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Speakers:
Maria Grazia Giuffreda , Direttrice Associata, CSCS
Silvia Quarteroni, Head of Innovation, Swiss Data Science Center EPFL/ETH
Bruno Giussani, Curatore ed esperto internazionale di cultura digitale
Prof. Emanuele Carpanzano, Direttore Ricerca, sviluppo e trasferimento della conoscenza, SUPSI
Prof. Luca Gambardella, CEO, Artificially
Moderator: Generoso Chiaradonna, Caporedattore economia, Corriere del Ticino

16:45 – 17:05 | Talk
AI: from expectations to impact
Silvia Quarteroni, Head of Innovation, Swiss Data Science Center EPFL/ETH

17:05 – 17:25 | Talk
Computing power and data sovereignty: the role of supercomputers
Maria Grazia Giuffreda, Associate Director, CSCS
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17:30 – 18:30 | International Frontiers of AI

‍A session dedicated to the global evolution of artificial intelligence, exploring how different countries and innovation ecosystems are shaping new technological, strategic, and societal trajectories.

17:30 – 17:45 | Talk
Taiwan’s New Developments in Artificial Intelligence (IN ENGLISH)
Steve Wang, Representative of the Taipei Cultural and Economic Delegation in Bern

17:45 – 18:00  | Talk
The Future of Cultural Immunity: How AI Defends Nations Against Disinformation (IN ENGLISH)
Aleksandras Brokas, Associate Professor, Vilnius TECH University, Former Vice-Minister of Culture, Lithuania, Founder and CEO, Culture Bridge

18:00 – 18:30 | Fireside Chat (IN ENGLISH)

AI and brain-computer interfaces: the future of human-machine interaction.
Christian Angermayer, Founder - Apeiron Investment Group
Pietro Poretti, Head of Economic Development, City of Lugano

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ROOM 4 | PARALLEL SESSION | AI governance and regulation

13:30 — 14:00 | Talk (IN ENGLISH)
Trust & Control: Shaping Governance for Self-Improving AI
Alessandro Maserati, CEO, Logol AG

14:00 — 14:30 | Talk (IN ENGLISH)
Democratic Governance and Collective Wisdom: Evaluating AI's Capacity for Deliberative Reasoning
Francesco Veri, Senior Researcher, University of Zurich

14:30 — 15:00 | Talk
The Impact of the AI Act on Swiss Companies
Giorgia Collina, Attorney at Studio Legale Cugini

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Cleaning Robots in Piazza Castello

‍Outside, in Piazza Castello, there will be an exhibition of cleaning robots by Alpha Solve Sagl, open until 14:00.

The event is primarily held in Italian. Some sessions will be in English, and these are indicated in the program.

A day aimed at businesses and professionals: managers, entrepreneurs and innovators who are transforming their companies and business models thanks to AI will alternate on stage. In parallel, a session dedicated to startups in the morning and one to artificial intelligence in the banking and financial sector in the afternoon.

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THE EVENT I S FULLY BOOKED

Attention: It is no longer possible to register for Day 4 (Thu, 4 December 2025) as the maximum number of participants has been reached. Registration is now officially closed.

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MAIN STAGE

08:30 | Doors open

09:00 — 09:10 |

Opening & Welcome‍

Alessandro Soldati, Entrepreneur and innovator, and Jan Trautmann, Resp. Communication and Innovation of the City of Lugano.

‍Introduction to the day and the role of Lugano as a Swiss hub for digital innovation and the adoption of AI in companies.

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09:10 — 09:30 | SPEECH

Opening keynote - AI, Experience, and Autonomous Organizations for Business Growth

Luca Mascaro, Sketchin Founder & Chairman

A strategic perspective for those leading companies and innovation, using AI as a decisive lever: how to design autonomous organizations capable of turning technological adoption into real growth, competitive advantage, and new value for the business.

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09.30 — 10:15 | PANEL

Driving transformation in the era of artificial intelligence

A comparison between business leaders on how artificial intelligence is changing the way they do business. We are not talking about products, but about vision, corporate culture, responsibility and the new role of leadership in leading digital transformation in a conscious and human-centric way.

‍Moderator:
Alessandro Soldati

‍Speakers:
Eleonora Goia, Accenture Switzerland
Robert Bregy, Municipal Secretary, City of Lugano
Luca Gambardella, I BELIEVE, Artificialy S.A.
Daniel Trzesniak, Partner, EY
Cecilia Felici, International Marketing and Communication Manager, Var Group

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10:15 — 13:00 | USE CASE MARATHON

The AI that actually works (Part I)‍

Concrete cases of application of AI in different sectors — from industry to digital services. A fast-paced session with a focus on measurable results and practical insights for businesses.

10:15-10:35 | IBM –  Agentic AI , il prossimo passo nella digitalizzazione
Philipp Spati, CTO, IBM Switzerland

10:35-10:55 | Sartiq – AI for the optimization of creative processes
Luca Ambrosini, Founder (Sartiq)

‍10:55 – 11:20 | Coffee Break & Networking

11:20-11:40 | HCLTech – AI Force, Capitalizing Technology Revolutions to Supercharge Transformations
Rakesh Sarin, Head, HCLTech Confinale Wealth Solutions

11:40-12:00 | Var Group – The journey of AI: from understanding to action through evolution and real-world use cases
‍Alfredo Barbieri, Chief Data Scientist, Var Group 

12:00-12:20 | Swisscom – (ENG) The AI revolution – what has happened so far and what will happen nextChristof Zogg, Head of Business Transformation, Swisscom

12:20-12:40 | EY -The rise of Agentic AI: business cases, results, and ROIVincenzo De Rosa, Lead Director – Artificial Intelligence, EY

12:40-13:00 | Karakun - rom searching to interacting with content
Sandro Pedrazzini, Co-founder, Karakun
Olmo Barberis, Product Manager, Karakun

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13:00 — 14:30 | Business Lunch & Networking Tables

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14:30 — 14:50 | SPEECH

From laboratories to the market: the applied AI of Swiss research

Professor Andrea Emilio Rizzoli, Director IDSIA/USI-SUPSI

‍From research to reality: how academic projects are transformed into products and services thanks to collaboration with Swiss companies.‍

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14:50 — 17:10 | USE CASE MARATHON

the AI that really works (Part II)‍

SMEs, startups and institutions share their experience with the adoption of AI.
High-paced session (15 minutes per talk) .Focus on measurable results and practical insights for businesses.
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14:50-15:10 | Acer – The Enterprise GenAI Adoption Journey
Emanuele Meazzo, Senior Manager Data Science & Intelligence (Acer)‍

15:10-15:30 | SUPSI - GenAI at the service of the objectives of SMEs
Leandro Bitetti, Researcher-Lecturer (SUPSI)

15:30-15:50 | AGIRE — Value-driven AI for SMEsAndrea Barni
Deputy Director & Stefano Sattanino, Innovation Specialist (AGIRE)

15:50-16:10 | WellD – From napkins to User Stories: how AI can revolutionize requirements collection
Matteo Codogno, Tech Lead (WellD)

16:10 – 16:30 | Coffee Break & Networking

16:30-16:50 | S-PRO - Understanding AI for your Business: The AI Opportunity Radar
Dustin Schulze, Digital Strategy & Solutions Lead (S-PRO)

‍16:50-17:10 | Artificialy – From voice to action: more fluid processes with conversational AIAthos Fiori, Head of AI Solutions (Artificialy SA)‍

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17:10-17:40 | Keynote

The dark side of AI. When the sh*t hits the fan... AI Edition

Matteo Flora, Expert in AI and Superintelligence Security

After celebrating the successes and promises of AI, it's time to look at the dark side of Artificial Intelligence.

A talk dedicated to what almost no one talks about: implementation errors, silent failures, systemic biases, and reputational incidents generated by immature—and sometimes reckless, if not downright improvised—use of AI.

This is not digital terrorism.
It is a survival manual.

A keynote that will make you smile, reflect, and tremble a little, reminding you that the real bug is often not the algorithm... but those who use it... and that, even in the age of intelligent models, responsibility remains stubbornly human.

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17:40 — 18:00 | Keynote

QVAC: the decentralized future of artificial intelligence (ENG)

Subash SN, VP Engineering, Tether

After the 'failure', the vision. QVAC introduces a new paradigm: a local artificial intelligence that lives, learns and evolves directly on every device — from the human brain to robots, from smartphones to nanobots. A radical and decentralized vision of the future, where the power of AI multiplies without compromise and becomes accessible to everyone.

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18:00 — 18:30 | PANEL

Final Panel — Angels and Demons in the Age of AI

Format moderated by Matteo Flora, Expert in AI and Superintelligence Security

The theater of consciousness in the age of intelligent machines. A “civic exorcism” staged through three voices in the form of a lively dialogue. Within every decision there are two voices speaking... and someone who must listen to them.
Our conscience staged:
– The philosopher who calls for ethics.
– The devil who pushes towards the future.
– A mayor who has to decide.
– A moderator who orchestrates these forces, holds the collective conscience together, and pushes the decision-maker to take a stand.
And this time, those voices take the stage.
Live.
With:
👼 Markus Krienke – the voice of ethics
😈 Matteo Flora – the voice of provocation
🏛️ Michele Foletti – the voice of decision
🎙️ Alessandro Soldati – the voice that orchestrates, balances, and urges the decision-maker to choose

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18:30 — 18:40 | Closing Remarks

Lugano Living Lab
Final thanks and greetings.

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18:40 — 20:00 | Closing Aperitif

A convivial moment to end the week together with speakers, partners and the public.

PARALLEL SESSIONS

Room 4

09:30 — 12:50 | Innovating AI: Startups Vision‍

Startups and investors talk about how to innovate and scale in the AI market.‍

09:30 — 10:00 | Talk
Lorenzo Leoni, Managing Partner, TiVentures

‍10:00 — 10:30 | Talk
‍‍Luigi Perderzani, Cofounder, MCP-use Inc. (YC Alumni)
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10:30 — 11:00 | Talk
‍‍Alberto Giovanni Busetto, Founding Partner & Chief AI Officer, AIR Ventures

11:00 — 11:20 | Coffee Break & Networking
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‍11:20-11:50 | Panel
Beyond the Hype: How AI startups create scalable solutions
Moderation: Samuele Morales, USC incubator coordinator, USI Startup Centre (USC)
Speakers: 
Gianvito Grasso, Ceo and Founder, InVirtuoLabs
Dario Mantegazza, Ceo and Founder, Flycatcher

11:50-12:20  | Talk
‍Fiorenzo Comini, Director and Founder, navAI

‍12:20-12:50 | Talk
Beatrice Scarioni, Founder, Dripstone Impact Consulting
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Room 4 |

14:30 — 17:30 | Banking AI: The Digitalization of a Traditional Sector ‍

From wealth management to next-generation chatbots: how AI is transforming the Swiss financial sector.
Moderator: Dimitri Loringett, Economic Journalist, Corriere del Ticino
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14:30 - 14:40 | Introduction by HCL Tech
Journey to Autonomous Banking (IN ENGLISH)
Stefan Keller, Head of Product Innovation, HCLTech Confinale Wealth Solutions

14:40 — 15:00 | Talk
AI-based forecasting and market expectations: a self-fulfilling prophecy? (IN ENGLISH)
‍Prof. Edoardo Beretta, Professor in Monetary Economics, USI
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‍15:00 — 15:20 | Talk
Integrating Agentic AI Where It Matters: Transforming Banking Technology Ecosystems (IN ENGLISH)
‍Lior Leibovich, Head of AI Lab, Avaloq an NEC company

‍15:20 — 15:40 | Talk
AI Foundry, Integrating AI Powered Banking Platforms for seamless autonomous Banking Value Chains (IN ENGLISH)
Rakesh Sarin, Head, HCLTech Confinale Wealth Solutions
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‍15:40 — 16:00 | Talk
Beyond Chatbots: The Next Generation of AI Agents in Banking (IN ENGLISH)
‍Maksims Aleksejevs, AI Project Manager for Banks, SBS

16:10 – 16:30 | Coffee Break & Networking

‍16:30 — 16:50 | Talk
Lost in Experimentation? How to turn AI into value in Financial Services (IN ENGLISH)
‍Laurenz Schaller, Growth Strategy Senior Manager & Andrea Ronchetti, Digital Marketing & Strategy Advisor, Accenture

‍16:50 — 17:10 | Talk
Taxation, AI and the consultant's role: balancing compliance automation with risk governance
‍Arianna Bonaldo, Lawyer, Helvetia Trust Company

‍17:10 – 17:30 | TalkNNAISENSE: a New Hedge Fund powered by Generative AI and Large Investing Models 
‍Alessandro Ricci, Head of Portfolio Management

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Room 2 |

AI Open Mic Corner (09:30 - 16:30)‍

20-minute mini-talk from startups and SMEs selected by the open call.

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09:30 — 09:50 | Talk
Empowerment and Productivity with AI: How to Work Better, Not Harder
Chiara Dragonetti, Founder, InnovAI

09:50 — 10:10 | Talk
LLM + MCP: AI at the center of the funnel
Carlo Milani, AI Human-Centered Specialist, AB Digital

‍‍10:10 — 10:30 | Talk — From documents to answers. How to transform thousands of texts into reliable information with a local RAG and agent-based architecture
Ivo Durisch, Computer Scientist, Lineasoft
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‍‍10:30 — 10:50 | Talk — Do you really know who your ideal customer is? Find out in a few clicks with AI (before your competitor does it)
Guglielmo Arrigoni, Director, Digital Strategies Academy

10:55 – 11:20 | Coffee Break & Networking

‍11:20 — 11:40 | Talk — AI in business processes: from theory to real impact
Igor Ciminelli, General Manager, Titan Swiss S.A.
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‍11:40 — 12:00 | Talk (ENG) — AI in Action: Lessons from Swiss SMEs
Matthias Mohler, Head of Data & AI Consulting, Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd

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Expo Room

Accenture    
Artificialy    
Corriere del Ticino
Ernst & Young  
HCL Tech    
Karakun    
Sketchin    
Swisscom
Var Group

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Cleaning Robots in Piazza Castello

From December 1 to 4, an outdoor exhibition of cleaning robots from Alpha Solve Sagl will be on display in Piazza Castello.

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A journey into artificial intelligence in Lugano

The fifth and final day of Lugano AI Week 2025 will be dedicated to an experience spread throughout the territory: the Lugano AI Map, an open-door itinerary that invites businesses, institutions, universities and citizens to discover the places and protagonists of artificial intelligence in the city. It will be a unique opportunity to get to know laboratories, research centers and companies that are building the Lugano AI ecosystem, through demos, guided tours, performances and meetings open to the public. The goal is to show how artificial intelligence is developing, studying and applying it concretely to the territory, creating connections between those who produce knowledge, those who transform it into innovation and those who use it in daily life.

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Open Doors at SUPSI with Var Group: From Hackathon to Reality, Where Innovation Takes Shape

Time: 9:30 – 11:30
Location:
Start Up Garage SUPSI, 1st Floor, Block C, East Campus
Via la Santa 1, 6962 Viganello

Register here

In Italian

The event will recount the journey that led a team of SUPSI students from selection to winning Var Group’s “Are you in the loop?” Hackathon, thanks to an AI project in the field of training developed for the company ITALO – Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori.

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Open doors at IDSIA — Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence Studies (USI-SUPSI).

Location: USI-SUPSI EST Campus, Lugano-Viganello

Visiting times:
11:00 — 11:30 - Register here
‍11:30 — 12:00 - Register here
14:00 — 14:30: Register here
14:30 — 15:00: Register here

Deadline for registration: Dec 3
No parking is avalable on the premises.
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Visit to the laboratories of the Dalle Molle Institute, where the algorithms that are transforming the way we live and work are born. IDSIA researchers will guide visitors to discover projects and experiments that combine science, technology and society.

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Open doors at the CSCS — Swiss National Supercomputing Centre.

Location: Via Trevano 131, Lugano

Visiting times:
14:15 – 15:00: Register here
15:30 – 16:15: Register here
16:45 – 17:30: Register Here

Description: An opportunity to discover up close the computing and research infrastructures that make Switzerland a world reference in the field of artificial intelligence and supercomputing.
Participants: up to 45 people per visit

The registration link will be available soon.

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Visits to the L'Ideatorio USI — Exhibition “From automation to artificial intelligence”

Location: L'Ideatorio USI, Cadro

Exhibition: “Robots. From automation to Artificial Intelligence”

Description: An interactive exhibition for humans aged 6 to 99, to discover what lies inside robots and artificial intelligence and reflect on what distinguishes us from them.

AI Week Lugano special offer valid for Saturday 6 December 2025: 20% discount on admission tickets at the ticket office for all visitors on that day.

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Open doors at Accenture – Exploring AI applied to the real world.

Location: Via Pietro Peri 21B, Lugano

Visiting hours:
11:00 – 11:40 - SOLD OUT
12:00 – 12:40 - SOLD OUT
14:00 – 14:40 - SOLD OUT
15:00 – 15:40 - SOLD OUT

Description: A guided tour through four themed stands showing how Accenture integrates artificial intelligence and Generative AI in different industrial contexts. An opportunity to discover innovative solutions ranging from product design to human-machine interaction, from assisted software development to the new generation of intelligent agents applied to various sectors.
Participants: maximum 20 people per session.

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Visit to the PoW Space and Developer Workshop on QVAC

Location: Contrada di Sassello 10, Lugano.

Hours:
10:00-13:00
14:00 - 17:00

Description:
A technical lab dedicated to developers interested in experimenting with QVAC, an innovative platform for creating decentralized AI solutions.

Free entry

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Open doors at the Lugano Generative Center — “MIMENTO” performance.

Location: Besso Generative Center, Via Besso 42a, Lugano

Time: 18:30 (but the Generative Center is open to the public from 13:30)

Description: MIMENTO is a collective artistic and ritual performance that explores the relationship between identity, digital memory and liberation from social media. An experience that transforms personal data into living and narrative matter, giving back to everyone the opportunity to rewrite their story outside the algorithms.

More information here

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Exhibition “Unseen Lugano. The Gaze of H. A. Insinger”

From December 1, 2025 to June 30
Location: Palazzo Civico

Amid late-19th-century photographs, the exhibition presents a 3D immersive reconstruction of the Castello di Trevano. A digital experience dedicated to an emblematic, history-rich site that was demolished in the 1960s. The narrative journey is animated by an AI language model that guides visitors through the castle’s stories and the mysteries of the Belle Époque.

THE INAUGURATION 
Will be held the previous day at Palazzo Civico, December 4, 6:00 pm with a public presentation of the new exhibition setup
Institutional greetings followed by a guided tour.

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