Metta, IIT: "Quantum computing will be the next life-changing technology."

What is the most overrated technology today? "I read somewhere that we're very good at overestimating things in the short term and underestimating them in the long term," says Giorgio Metta, scientific director of the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa. "Put that way, the answer is easy: I think it's artificial intelligence. There's a huge amount of hype; many think they know what will happen tomorrow, but no one analyzes the long-term consequences of the spread of AI. It could redraw the maps of power, work, and the economy, and have a huge impact on society. Not necessarily negatively; I don't want to scare anyone: it will probably just create different balances, but we can't say that now." Will AI, robotics, and other advanced technologies help bridge social inequalities, or rather, accentuate them? There's a risk that many will be excluded from the benefits of these innovations, but it would cost very little to provide them to everyone, so in a democratic system we'll likely move toward some form of compensation: voters will ask politicians for a new balance of well-being. There will be some upheaval, but we should reach a balance. And it could be a wonderful future for the health of individuals and the planet.

Do you see the future as rosy at IIT? “We're working to make it so. Our activities are divided into two main areas. One is healthcare , which concerns human health; the other, we call earthcare , concerns caring for the Earth, with projects related to new materials, sustainability, and energy. In other words, we take care of ourselves and the planet. On the healthcare front, we're doing some very interesting things: from the discovery of new drugs to robotics applied to worker well-being and safety. It's an area in which we develop tools that have a concrete impact on quality of life.”

An example? "Thanks to simulations conducted with artificial intelligence, we have discovered a molecule capable of alleviating the cognitive symptoms of certain neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, Down syndrome, and epilepsy. It was identified by starting with existing molecules, seeking to eliminate their side effects. A startup founded within IIT is developing it and is showing promising results in Phase 2 of the clinical trial; if all goes well, it will be available in some time."

Let's talk robotics: iCub is your most popular creation, but there's much more... "Yes, for example in the field of disability. The robotic technologies we've developed are the basis for new prosthetics for hands, ankles, elbows, and knees, designed to be active and functional in everyday life. Last year, we won first and second place in an international competition in Zurich: athletes wearing our prosthetics tackled complex courses and won gold and silver. This proves that they're no longer just supports, but highly effective substitutes. These technologies are, in a certain sense, derived from iCub: they're active robotic prosthetics, very different from the passive ones of the past. Ours are equipped with motors and activate autonomously to facilitate movement, improving posture and functionality."

Then there's Concert, the construction robot. How's it going? "We presented it a few months ago and recently signed an agreement with a.Quantum, an Acea group company, to use Concert in infrastructure monitoring and construction. Acea manages water and electricity networks: with our robot, we aim to improve predictive maintenance and safety, avoiding exposing workers to risky situations. We've also created a joint laboratory to work together on these goals."

In all these examples, a pattern emerges: research, startup, product... "It's part of IIT's mission: to bring research to concrete application. There's no magic formula; it takes patience and perseverance. Not all ideas work, but the chances increase if you keep trying. Our researchers are motivated; many have mentors who are both scientists and entrepreneurs. Some stay in academia, others found startups. And often, the results come."

What does it take to conduct research today? "Beyond passion, you need funding. In Europe, we still invest too little: the average is 2.2% of GDP, but Italy's is at 1.4%. Furthermore, 80% of funding comes from the public sector and only 20% from private sources, while in the United States, the opposite is true. Without private capital, it's difficult to bring innovations to market; we need new, hybrid models in which the public and private sectors collaborate to truly grow technology."

How is Italy doing internationally? "Very good in terms of the quality of our human capital: our scientists are able to achieve excellent results even with limited resources. But we need greater financial support, both in absolute terms and in terms of investment type. We need to be more willing to take risks, otherwise we'll fall behind."

What impact does artificial intelligence have on research? "AI is revolutionizing the ability to invent. It's not about using generative tools to write or create images, but about building models that help speed up scientific discovery. In theory, we will be able to invent everything there is to invent. The only limit is computing power.

And does Italy have access to this computing capacity?

We've made some progress, I'm thinking of the Bologna Supercomputing Center and the initiatives by Leonardo and ENI. The gap with American big tech remains enormous: they invest hundreds of billions a year, have energy, infrastructure, and long-term plans. Italy will have to make strategic choices to avoid being left out of this kind of progress.

I asked ChatGPT a question for her. Here it is: "What is the material with which we build the future: silicon, neurons, or passion?" "The answer is: all three. Silicon represents technology, neurons represent our biological intelligence, and passion is the engine that drives us forward even when the context isn't ideal. It's the combination of these elements that can truly change the world."

What invention hasn't been invented yet that could change our lives? "I believe we're not lacking a single invention. Progress comes from a series of innovations and successive steps. But if I had to point to one, I'd say quantum computing, a technology that could revolutionize the performance and costs of artificial intelligence, accelerating scientific discovery and opening up incredible possibilities in fields such as medicine, energy, and space. We're just at the beginning; we're missing—pardon the pun—a quantum leap to truly achieve quantum computing."