(AGENPARL) – ven 24 maggio 2024 Reid Hoffman receives honorary PhD from the University of Perugia
The awarding of the PhD to one of the founding fathers of Artificial Intelligence enriches the programme of the 2nd Universal Symposium on Soul and Economics in Solomeo
Solomeo, May 24th, 2024 – This morning, at the Aula Magna of the University of Perugia, the well-known US entrepreneur and investor Reid Hoffman was awarded an honorary PhD in Human Sciences by the Rector, upon proposal of the Department of Philosophy, Social, Human and Education Sciences.
The Rector, Prof. Maurizio Oliviero, upon unanimous resolution of the Academic Senate of the University of Perugia, bestowed the prestigious title on Reid Hoffman, internationally recognised as one of the founding fathers of Generative Artificial Intelligence, for his seminal contribution to the development of this new technological frontier of humanity and for having steered its development towards a vision of growth in human capabilities from the earliest times. The Doctoral College has seen in Hoffman a very authoritative scholar in the field of the relationship between technology and humanism, capable of bringing together in an interdisciplinary way subjects such as philosophy, sociology, anthropology, mathematics and neuroscience.
The Umbrian entrepreneur of the eponymous Fashion House Brunello Cucinelli has fully endorsed the initiative, which is part of the programme of the “Second Universal Symposium on Soul and Economics in Solomeo” (23-25 May), in continuity with the first edition held in May 2019, again at the Umbrian hamlet.
The three days of the Symposium, which is focused once again on deeply exploring the relationship between ethics and Artificial Intelligence, have thus made Solomeo and Perugia the centres of an enlightened system of thought on the positive future that awaits us. The symposium involves a large group of leading international experts in AI and other fields such as humanism, art, science, nature and was attended, in addition to Hoffman himself, by Laurene Powell Jobs (American philanthropist, founder and president of Emerson Collective), James Manyika (SVP Google Technology and Society), Fei-Fei Li (scientist heading Stanford’s Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence Institute), Refik Anadol (world-famous artist), Nicholas Thompson (CEO of The Atlantic), Michael Evans (president of Alibaba), Arvind Krishna (CEO of IBM), Uzodinma Iweala (prominent African writer), Kevin Scott (CTO of Microsoft), Pieter Van der Does (CEO of Adyen), Jacqueline Novogratz (prominent American philanthropist, CEO of Acumen).
Reid Hoffman commented as follows: “In this era of AI, we are living through an incredible technological transformation, one that we must shape and let shape us. After all, we are homo techne; we humans are toolmakers and tool users. And when those two elements—humanity and technology—come together, the result is not a cyborg, but a better human. We arrive at ourselves, amplified and improved through technology. As I say in my last maxim of six for the AI era: Futura nobis efficienda potiora quam praesentia. We have an obligation to make the future better than the now. It is a pleasure to be among like-minded and like-motivated people here at the University of Perugia and in Solomeo—and a privilege to receive this honorary PhD in Human Sciences from the University of Perugia. Thank you”.
These were the words of Rector Maurizio Oliviero: “The awarding of the prestigious PhD Honoris Causa to the humanist and entrepreneur Reid Hoffman is of special significance, fully embracing the values of the University of Perugia and projecting them into the future. Reid Hoffman, an undisputed pioneer in the field of technology and digital entrepreneurship, an extraordinary innovator and one of the acknowledged fathers of artificial intelligence, is first and foremost an extraordinary thinker, whose work has initiated fundamental critical reflection on the social and moral implications of the adoption of emerging technologies and their impact on human society.
His extraordinary capacity for innovation and entrepreneurial vision, his commitment to promoting an ethical, responsible and constructive dialogue on the integration of artificial intelligence into people’s lives, with the involvement of distinguished representatives of the Human Sciences, has helped shape the future direction of technological development, while respecting fundamental human values such as dignity, well-being and fairness.
Therefore, today’s PhD is not only a fitting tribute to Reid Hoffman’s extraordinary past, but it is also and above all an encouragement and a shared commitment for the future, which places our University, in collaboration with the most important bodies and institutions at an international level, at the centre of the path of building a world in which technological innovation can be harmoniously coupled with the deepest human values.
I therefore extend my warmest congratulations to Reid Hoffman, the new PhD from the University of Perugia”.
Brunello Cucinelli stated: “The PhD awarded to my highly esteemed friend Reid Hoffman fills me with joy. He is an amiable person, with a wonderful dual soul of a scientist and a philosopher that shone through in the words he spoke today in his enchanting lecture, in this splendid hall of our University, which is one of the oldest in the world. I believe that we must look at Artificial Intelligence with interest and confidence, using it for the immense wealth of values it can provide humanity with; our great ancient philosophers recommended that we should always tackle the unprecedented challenges that await us with hope, with mind and heart. Avicenna, the great Persian philosopher, thought that man is called upon to make use of his precious reason. Instinct is necessary, but it is the human intellect that helps us live more amiably, and I would like the new generations to welcome the best of innovation as a blessing from Creation, nourishing their souls well”.