Computational portraits: when we are the object of representation

CYCLE: Artificial Intelligence concerns everyone: invisible infrastructures, hidden Interests, culture, and democracy in the age of algorithms
SPEAKER: Paola Velardi
DATE: Tuesday, June 23, 6:00 PM
LOCATION: Bibliotheca Maior - Sala della Crociera

For centuries, portraiture has sought to capture identity, character, and aspirations. Today, without brushes or canvases, Artificial Intelligence systems create "digital portraits" of each of us: virtual and synthetic versions that represent our preferences, interests, and online behaviors. Every search, purchase, or pause in reading feeds this digital avatar, which algorithms use to anticipate our choices and guide us in increasingly personalized ways. This presentation provides an accessible introduction to the mechanisms that make this process possible. At its core lies the objective function: the criterion that guides algorithms in choosing the best response. To achieve this, platforms develop computational portraits of users through profiling and employ strategies of algorithmic persuasion, tailoring content, recommendations, prices, and interactions. Through concrete examples, such as chatbots, dynamic pricing, and intelligent agents in e-commerce, this session will offer tools to understand how these representations are constructed and how they influence our choices, fostering a critical perspective on these new forms of digital mediation.

Paola Velardi was a Full Professor of Computer Science at Sapienza University of Rome and is currently a Senior Associate at the CNR-ISTC (Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies). Active in the field of Artificial Intelligence since the 1980s, including a period as a visiting researcher at Stanford University (1983), she is internationally recognized in her field. Her research interests include semantic language representation, machine learning, and knowledge bases, with applications in social networks, e-health, e-learning, bioinformatics, recommendation systems, and cultural heritage. Among her many honors, she was featured alongside 45 other international female scientists in the "Women in Science" pavilion of UNESCO's Virtual Science Museum.

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