Bringing younger generations closer to a conscious, ethical, and innovative use of Artificial Intelligence: this was the objective of “School Hackathon AI” the initiative promoted by the Tuscany Region and organized by Engineering, which concluded yesterday in the presence of Gianluca Vannuccini, Director of Information Systems, Technological Infrastructure and Innovation, and Francesco Romizi, Head of the Secretariat of the Regional Councillor for Labor, Education and Technological Innovation, Alberto Lenzi.

The event, held at Engineering’s Florence headquarters and at the Cosimo Ridolfi Auditorium – Intesa Sanpaolo, involved 58 students from the Tuscan Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) Prime and Prodigi in an intensive day dedicated to designing AI-based solutions to address local challenges.

Divided into six groups, each supported by an Engineering AI & Data expert tutor, the participants—aged between 18 and 35—took part in the challenge to design a virtual assistant capable of responding to a social need. After an introductory session on AI technologies, the ethical principles governing them, and their everyday applications, all participants worked on developing their proposals, exploring the vast potential of Artificial Intelligence applied to real-world contexts while also building critical awareness of the ethical and social implications of this technology.

“In a historical phase in which Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing every aspect of our social and working lives, education is the first and fundamental step to enable everyone—especially younger generations—to manage this technology in a conscious and ethical way,” said Andrea Gabardo, Executive Vice President Public Sector at Engineering. “I was truly impressed by the projects presented during the hackathon, which demonstrated that students, when properly guided, are capable of using advanced technologies to generate positive social impact. I would like to thank the Tuscany Region for involving Engineering in this initiative. With over thirty years of experience in Artificial Intelligence, we put our expertise at the service of communities to jointly build an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable digital future.”

All the projects presented by the groups addressed real social areas: sustainable tourism, waste management, career guidance, and administrative, tax, and psychological support. Among the most appreciated proposals was “AI Need Job,” an artificial intelligence-based tool designed to support job searching through CV optimization suggestions and services that highlight companies aligned with users’ job searches, prioritizing those currently hiring, geographically closer, and more compatible with smart working needs. The virtual assistant “TrashBot,” on the other hand, promotes proper waste management by educating citizens about local collection systems and ensuring public spaces are used for correct waste disposal, while “Beatrice” guides tourists in Tuscany with suggested itineraries to lesser-known and less crowded destinations, accessible via public transport, bike sharing, and barrier-free routes.

“School Hackathon AI” is part of the broader pathway launched by the Tuscany Region through a public call for expressions of interest aimed at identifying partners to activate joint initiatives for the promotion of Artificial Intelligence in Tuscany, with the goal of fostering the region’s digital transition and enhancing AI-related skills among citizens, businesses, and public administrations.