How can Università della Svizzera Italiana ensure the responsible and ethical use of AI?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the world of education, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance teaching and learning. However, its use raises important ethical and practical questions. How can universities ensure a responsible and ethical application of these technologies? The Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) provides an interesting example of how innovation and responsibility can coexist.

USI is embracing a decentralized and exploratory approach to AI adoption, allowing professors to experiment independently while laying the groundwork for ethical and practical guidelines. This approach prioritizes innovation while ensuring that future policies align with institutional values

Decentralized exploration

USI has no centralized AI tools or formal adoption yet. Professors are independently experimenting with generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Wooflash to enhance their teaching approaches.

Drafting comprehensive guidelines

A newly formed AI Working Group is tasked with creating ethical and practical guidelines for AI use.

Initial focus: provide clear policies for students and faculty, addressing ethical considerations and responsible use.

Emerging use cases

In the Computer Science faculty, discussions are underway on using AI-assisted coding tools to adapt teaching strategies. Professors are exploring how AI can support—not replace—traditional learning processes.

Conclusions: A Path Between Ethics and Innovation

The experience of USI demonstrates that technological innovation and ethical reflection can go hand in hand. Even without a centralized strategy, the university fosters responsible experimentation, encouraging a constructive debate on the use of AI in education.