The Second Annual Rome Conference on AI, Ethics, and Corporate Governance will again bring together executives from leading AI companies as well as large enterprises using AI with policymakers, scholars, ethicists and lawyers to consider in a holistic way the challenges facing the ethics and governance of AI, both for companies developing this revolutionary technology as well as the enterprises incorporating AI into their businesses. The emergence of generative AI marks a watershed moment in the evolution of human institutions. AI systems now make (or support) decisions that touch nearly every sector of public and private life, from healthcare and education to finance, law, and defense. Yet the development and deployment of these technologies risks outpacing the ethical and governance frameworks needed to ensure they align with fundamental human values. While governments, NGOs, and multilateral institutions continue to explore regulatory pathways, there is growing consensus that regulation alone is insufficient to safeguard society from AI’s most pressing risks—especially in light of the global scope of innovation, speed and complexity of AI development. The Conference will incorporate into its discussion the challenges arising from the widespread use of AI, including those often identified by His Holiness Pope Francis and, most recently, by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV.  The profound ethical implications of AI development and deployment have been outlined by the Holy Father Pope Francis on several notable occasions, including his “Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace” on January 1, 2024¹, his remarks at the World Economic Forum² as well as his address to world leaders at the 2024 G7 Summit³, and continue to be central issues confronting all businesses today. In continuity with this vision, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV , in his inaugural allocution to the College of Cardinals, has described the rise of AI as a new “industrial revolution”⁴ that entails profound consequences for the protection of human dignity and the pursuit of justice. Among the issues to be addressed during this two-day conference will be:

• Corporate governance models and effective oversight by boards of AI companies and enterprises incorporating AI technology into their products and services;
• Ethical challenges faced by companies developing and deploying AI; and
• How to design appropriate corporate structures to ensure that AI serves all stakeholders and companies and boards can focus appropriately on potential risks and long-term issues when considering the development, use and deployment of novel AI technology.

 The conference will include multiple panels, roundtable discussions, and fireside chats. There will be ample time for questions, formal and informal exchange of ideas and thoughts on best practices as well as networking among all participants and attendees.