From the kitchen table to the future of AI

A kitchen table, an open laptop, and a cat curled up on your lap.
Because yes, you really can start at a kitchen table and end up going a very long way.

That’s the image our CTO, Luca Antiga, chose to open his keynote at the 19th Summer School “Mathematics and Internet of Things”, held in San Pellegrino Terme and organized by the University of Bergamo and Confindustria Bergamo.
The Summer School brings together high school juniors and seniors from across Lombardy, with the goal of sparking curiosity for STEM disciplines and offering students a hands-on orientation experience as they prepare for their post-graduation choices.

A simple, everyday image—one familiar to many developers, that carried a powerful message for both students and teachers: you don’t need a one-way ticket to Silicon Valley or extraordinary talent to make innovation happen. What you need is curiosity, the desire to dig deeper, perseverance, and yes, a little bit of luck.

One of the highlights for the students came when Luca showed a chart of ChatGPT queries dropping sharply as soon as schools closed for the summer holidays. It was a playful way of saying:“This time, you’re the protagonists! You’re involved, and your contribution matters!”

And it’s true. For once, the conversation wasn’t about a distant future or exclusive technologies reserved for experts. It was about tools that are already part of everyday life.

But using a tool isn’t the same as understanding it. That’s why Luca encouraged the students to go beyond the interface and peek “behind the scenes” of foundation models—to learn how they work, how they evolve, and the role each of us can play in shaping their growth through open source.

For Luca, the encounter with open source came even before his work in artificial intelligence. It was a turning point: an open door that led him, from his kitchen table, to collaborating with some of the very people who are now writing the history of AI.

Because open source is more than just technology, it’s about collaboration, sharing, and collective growth. And today, more than ever, the opportunities for those who want to explore and experiment are practically limitless.

And the cat? He was the silent companion through countless hours of programming—and maybe deserves a little credit for how things turned out too.

Luca left the students with a simple but powerful piece of advice: don’t wait for the “right moment” or the “right place.” Start. Even if it’s just from your kitchen table.

It’s a message that goes beyond technology. Curiosity, perseverance, and the courage to experiment are qualities that open doors in every field of life and work.

The students’ response was the best proof of that. They asked dozens of questions, especially about the future of AI. Their curiosity revealed not only enthusiasm for using these tools but also awareness of the challenges and concerns they raise. They wanted to know about practical applications, but also about big topics like the AI Act and the importance of clear rules for responsible development.

It was a lively and authentic exchange, one that made the Summer School a valuable experience not only for the students, but also for us. Because the future of artificial intelligence depends on our ability to engage, inspire, and empower the next generation.