Third Universal Symposium on Soul and Economics

Solomeo, May 15–18, 2025

The participants of the III Universal Symposium of the Soul and Economy of Solomeo gathered at the Cucinelli Theatre. Among the guests: Yuval Noah Harari, Reid Hoffman, Nicholas Thompson, Audrey Tang, Sougwen Chung, Jim Breyer, Sarah Ladipo Manyika, Chris Anderson, Andrea Pontremoli, Peggy Johnson, JR, Alec Ross, Yasmin Green, Carme Artigas, Nirav Tolia, Vilas Dhar, Eva Maydell and many others.

Final reflections on the great theme of human artificial intelligence and philanthropy of the soul

During these three wonderful days spent together in Solomeo, against the enchanting backdrop of the Umbrian countryside and immersed in its Genius loci (the Spirit of the Place), we discussed the major contemporary issues, inspired by the reflections that human artificial intelligence is fostering within us all. We discussed humanity, spirituality, religion, and knowledge, exchanging our perspectives and visions. We looked toward the horizons to which innovation is leading us and attempted to imagine its resonance across communities, societies, and individuals.

We spoke about democracy, participation, confrontation and synthesis, as well as how to establish common ground to foster plurality. We also envisaged the arts of the future, which will emerge from the extension of human eyes and hands made possible by technology, merging humans and AI in a sort of shared creative process.

We talked at length about science and medicine, new research, renewed hopes, health and wellbeing. Then we moved on to creativity and the value of written words. We also discussed the great and timeless values of generosity and empathy, whose ancient legacy will continue to inspire our vision for guiding the future of humanity.

We emphasised the importance of the ability to learn and to relate to those around us in order to continue nurturing our societies through everyone's contributions. Finally, we became emotional when discussing the possibility of creating a collaboration between humans and technology that would always treat the latter as our handmaiden, enabling humanity to continue exploring, understanding, dreaming and building.

It was precisely with regard to this last point, to this immaterial scenario where reason and the irrational meet, that we were able to appreciate the depth of the dialogues at the 2025 Symposium. We became even more convinced of the benefits that humanity can derive from human technology by using it in the Greek way, within measure and according to utility.

The world is thirsty for novelty, and technology is a novelty that not only brings improvement but, we believe, represents a true revolution—like others in the past—which began as technological revolutions, where the capacity to create exceeded the ability to foresee the consequences, and later evolved into humanistic revolutions. This has given rise to what we like to think of as the “Philanthropy of the Soul”. From this idea, we embraced and shared the proposal to call ourselves “The Torchbearers of Solomeo”!