With the rise of generative AI, artificial intelligence has become more visible than ever. What’s striking, however, is how AI is surrounded by both extreme expectations and deep misconceptions. This paradox may partly explain the gap between its promise and its often limited real-world impact — especially in the very sectors it claims to transform: industry, the public sector, and society at large.

In this talk, Silvia Quarteroni will discuss what I believe to be the major opportunities for AI in Switzerland — whether in boosting productivity, optimizing operations, or enabling breakthrough discoveries. I’ll argue for a broader, more systemic impact and highlight the essential roles academia, innovation agencies, and public institutions can play in turning potential into progress.

After completing her Master’s in Computer Science at EPFL and earning her PhD from the University of York, Silvia Quarteroni joined the University of Trento in 2008, and then the Polytechnic University of Milan in 2010 as a postdoctoral research associate. In 2012, she returned to Switzerland to join ELCA as a Senior Consultant, later becoming a Senior Manager in 2017. Silvia Quarteroni joined the Swiss Data Science Center at EPFL in 2019 to work on AI-related transformations and their transfer to the real economy. She became the Director of Transformation and Head of Innovation in 2022. In 2024, she joined the Innovation Council of Innosuisse and was elected as a member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences (SATW) in 2025. Silvia Quarteroni received in 2024 an EPFL Alumni Award in recognition of her unique contribution to the international success of the School.

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