The seminar “Computer Sapiens Sapiens, work in the digital age”, held in Rovereto / Italy from 24 to 26 October 2025 and moderated by Maurizio Tomasi, journalist and editor of the magazine 'Trentini nel mondo', brought together scholars, trade union representatives, university professors and members of the EZA network from numerous European countries. The seminar was attended by a total of 55 participants from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania. The seminar was organized by UNAIE (Unione Nazionale delle Associazioni degli Immigrati ed Emigrati), with the support of EZA and funded by the European Union.
The meeting took place in an atmosphere of great interest and participation, fostering intense dialogue between different generations and professional fields. The central theme of the seminar was the discussion of the changes that new digital technologies and artificial intelligence are bringing about in the world of work. The speakers emphasised how the growing autonomy of digital systems is changing not only the way we work, but also our perception of the value and meaning of work itself. There was a growing awareness that digitalisation is not just a technological evolution, but a social and cultural transformation that affects workers' skills, rights, relationships and safety. The timing of the seminar was particularly significant, as it coincided with the conclusion of the 2023-2025 three-year research project promoted by EU-OSHA on the impact of digitalisation on health and safety in the workplace. At a time when the European Commission is defining new recommendations on 'safe and sustainable digital work', the initiative provided a space for reflection and discussion between institutions, trade unions and young European workers.
The opening of the seminar was marked by a speech by Stefania Terlizzi, Director General of the Employment Agency of the Autonomous Province of Trento, who highlighted how new technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are redefining the world of work, transforming professions and skills. For this evolution to be fair and sustainable, clear rules and safeguards are needed that combine innovation, productivity and social well-being. Terlizzi stressed the need for public strategies to accompany the transformation of the labour market, promoting the inclusion and retraining of workers. Her speech laid the foundations for a concrete reflection on the role of local institutions in managing digital change. Next, Andrea Grosselli, Provincial Secretary of the CGIL (Italian General Confederation of Labour), addressed the issue of workers' rights in the digital age, focusing on automation, which has increased productivity and inequality, weakening trade unions and promoting precarious jobs. In the third speech of the day, Walter Largher, Provincial Secretary of the UIL (Italian Labour Union), emphasised the role of trade unions in the digital age, which must guide a fair transition through bargaining, worker protection and responsible AI governance, ensuring job security and strategic investment, especially where delays, labour shortages and insufficient infrastructure persist.
The second day of the seminar was dedicated to contributions from international speakers. Juan Pablo Chaclan, IT consultant at SQLI and lecturer at Marie & Louis Pasteur University (France), illustrated how the concept of the office has changed over the last five years: from a simple place to a network connecting home, office, cloud, algorithms and human relationships. Hybrid working is no longer a temporary solution, but a strategic choice which, if well designed, can improve productivity, access to talent and well-being. However, these benefits are not automatic: they depend on mutual trust, dialogue and context.
Next, Rudy Chaulet, professor emeritus at the same university, offered a critical reflection on the 'fortune and misfortune' of artificial intelligence, warning against the risk of excessive trust in algorithms and reminding us that innovation must always be geared towards improving the human condition, not reducing it to mere automated processes. Frederic Spagnoli, professor at Marie & Louis Pasteur University, addressed the relationship between digital technology and university education, emphasising how digital humanities represent an opportunity for dialogue between the humanities and technology.
In the afternoon, Elisa Ricci, professor at the University of Trento and unit manager at the Bruno Kessler Foundation, offered an innovative interpretation of the theme 'Apocalypse or rebirth? How artificial intelligence is redefining human work'. Ricci showed how AI, if properly managed, can lighten repetitive tasks and free up time for creative and relational activities, but she also drew attention to the risks of exclusion for less digitised workers and the urgent need to invest in transversal skills. The round table on Saturday afternoon, led by representatives of the EZA Platform for Young Workers gave a voice to young European workers. The debate highlighted the demand for accessible and continuous digital training, as well as the need to include social sustainability among the criteria for technological development.
The final part of the seminar, introduced by Gigliolla Dalbosco, content writer and social media manager, offered an original perspective on the phenomenon of digital nomads, presenting it as an evolution of migrant work towards global digital mobility. Thomas Capone, representative of EZA PYW, brought the perspective of young Europeans on artificial intelligence, highlighting enthusiasm but also concern about loss of control over data and social isolation. The conclusions were presented by Vittorino Rodaro, vice-president of UNAIE and EZA PICM councillor, who summarised the three days by reaffirming the value of social dialogue and European cooperation as tools for governing technological change.
A shared vision emerged from the seminar: digitalisation and artificial intelligence can be a great opportunity to improve the quality of work, but they must be accompanied by clear rules, continuous training and the protection of fundamental rights. It would be appropriate to set up a thematic network on digital work, following the recommendations that emerged from the EU-OSHA programme. For UNAIE, the seminar represents a starting point for translating the knowledge acquired into operational practices. Many speakers and participants have already expressed their willingness to incorporate these good practices into trade union training programmes and educational courses aimed at young workers, promoting a conscious and sustainable digital culture. This confirms the role of EZA and UNAIE as promoters of the European debate on a future of work that is not only more efficient, but also fairer, more sustainable and more inclusive.