Artificial Intelligence: Economic Opportunities, New Art, New Media and Emerging Frontiers of Technology
The Italian Cultural Institute of Zurich will host the international conference “AI, Art & Media and the New AI Economy”, an interdisciplinary event exploring how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping creativity, media, entrepreneurship, culture, and society.
The event will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the Liceo Artistico Italo Svizzero, Parkring 30, Zurich, bringing together internationally recognized researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, journalists, and innovation experts to discuss the opportunities and risks emerging from the AI revolution.
The evening will open with introductory remarks by Prof. Massimiano Bucchi, Professor of Science and Technology in Society and member of the Accademia dei Lincei, who will participate via live video connection. Bucchi will reflect on the evolving relationship between science, technology, and society in the age of Artificial Intelligence.
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Philip Di Salvo, Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the University of St. Gallen, focusing on the impact of AI on media ecosystems, public discourse, and cultural transformation.
A central highlight of the evening will be the presentation by Dr. Andrea Schenone, author of the internationally growing book “AI Wealth Machine”, AI Expert & Head of Finance, which explores how Artificial Intelligence is enabling a new generation of scalable digital businesses, automated income systems, and AI-driven entrepreneurship.
The book has gained increasing international attention, particularly in the United States, for its forward-looking vision of the emerging AI economy and the rise of “AI-enabled entrepreneurship.”
During his presentation, Schenone will discuss:
- AI-powered business models
- Automated income systems
- AI agents and autonomous digital companies
- The rise of one-person AI businesses
- Opportunities and risks of the AI-driven economy
- The transformation of work, productivity, and value creation
“Artificial Intelligence is becoming a new global economic infrastructure, comparable to electricity or the Internet,” says Schenone. “We are entering an era in which creativity, entrepreneurship, and automation will increasingly merge.”
The artistic dimension of the conference will be represented by internationally acclaimed contemporary artist Stefano Cagol, presented as Venice Biennale Artist & Curator. His contribution will focus on the relationship between AI, art, ecology, and the new creative languages emerging in contemporary culture and at the Venice Biennale 2026.
The evening will continue with a panel discussion moderated by journalist Bruno Indelicato (TX Group / Radio LORA), followed by an open Q&A session with the audience on the governance, ethics, and societal implications of AI technologies.
At 7:30 PM, guests will attend the artistic performance “Signal to the Future” by Stefano Cagol, international contemporary artist and guest artist at the Venice Biennale 2026.
Stefano Cagol is in Zurich in conjunction with his participation in the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia, titled In Minor Keys and curated by Koyo Kouoh. In Venice, Cagol represents the Republic of Nauru, the world’s smallest island nation, participating for the first time with a National Pavilion, serving as a voice for a universal ecological message focused on the climate crisis and extractivism.
Stefano Cagol: Signal to the Future The Signal as a Planetary Language
Through a new performance, Stefano Cagol will trigger universal signals to draw attention to urgent debates of the Anthropocene era, such as humanity’s environmental impact and the need for collective awareness and reaction. Combining an almost mystical-shamanic sensibility with an original and radical artistic approach, Cagol transforms apocalyptic anxiety into a surge of shared consciousness.
Stefano Cagol (b. 1969) is an Italian contemporary artist and curator. He has participated in the 61st, 59th, 55th, and 54th Venice Biennale, the 3rd and 2nd Something Else – Off Biennale Cairo, Manifesta 11 in Zurich, the 14th Curitiba Biennial, the 1st Xinjiang Biennial, and the 1st Singapore Biennial.
Locandina
Event details:
When
Thursday, June 11, 2026 – 6:00 PM
Where
Liceo Artistico Italo Svizzero Parkring 30, 8002 Zurich
Language
Conference held in English
Entry
Free entry
Attendance
Please confirm attendance by email at: iiczurigo.culturale@esteri.it (seats are limited)
Photography
Please be advised that photographs may be taken during our events. We make every effort to avoid photographing children and minors. Should you wish not to appear in any photographs, we kindly ask you to contact us by phone prior to the event. Thank you for your cooperation.
After the event
At the end of the event, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the book “AI Wealth Machine” at a special promotional price.
More information
www.aiwealthmachine.ai
Organization
The event is organized with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute Zurich and Brixen Kultur.