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| United for Impact: The partnership between Generali, Bocconi University, and the UNDP aims to leverage insurance solutions and academic research to drive sustainable development goals globally |
MILAN – The 2025 UNDP report examines how Artificial Intelligence can accelerate human development or widen inequalities. Generali, Bocconi University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) present the Human Development Report, which analyses the central challenge of AI: will it fast-track human progress or increase the divide? AI is redefining human development within a context of slowing economic progress and rising inequalities; its impact depends more on societal choices than on the technology itself. The report identifies three key levers, highlighting the urgency of preparing people to live and work in a world where AI is pervasive: complementarity between people and AI, innovation driven by social value, and investment in human capabilities, particularly in education and healthcare.
The Presentation of the 2025 Human Development Report
Generali, Bocconi University, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) presented the 2025 edition of the Human Development Report, "A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI”, on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, at Bocconi University in Milan. The Report addresses the implications of the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions and tools for human development. Specifically, the report focuses on the contribution AI can make to expanding human capabilities, supporting wellbeing, and promoting inclusive progress.
People at the Heart of Technological Innovation
People are at the heart of the document: how this technology affects lives globally and influences the systems we live in. The aim is to explore how current decisions can turn AI into a force capable of expanding human freedoms rather than limiting them. Supported by scientific input from Bocconi University, the event is part of the established partnership between Generali and UNDP, which aims to reduce the protection gap for vulnerable communities worldwide by expanding access to innovative insurance and risk-financing solutions.
Key Contributors and Strategic Vision
The presentation featured contributions from Pedro Conceição, Director of the UNDP Human Development Report Office; Professor Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University; Professor Paola Profeta, Pro-Rector for Diversity, Inclusion, and Sustainability and Full Professor of Public Economics at Bocconi University; and Anna Chiara Lucchini, Group Head of Leadership Development and Academy at Generali, with closing remarks from Andrea Sironi, Chairman of Generali and President of Bocconi University. The latest edition of the Human Development Report analyses the impact of Artificial Intelligence at a time when progress in human development is slowing and inequalities are widening once again.
AI: A Decisive Choice for Global Human Development
The Human Development Report 2025 highlights how AI is now part of daily life and can either expand or reduce people's opportunities depending on how it is designed, regulated, and used. In a global context marked by economic crises, conflicts, and struggling growth models, technology becomes a decisive but not neutral element: its contribution depends on collective choices. The report proposes three essential directions. The first is to build an economy in which people and AI collaborate, avoiding a use that replaces human labour without real benefits. The second is to lead innovation with intentionality, orienting research and applications towards social and not just market objectives, while also expanding the participation of less developed countries in the AI supply chain. The third is to invest in human capabilities, from education to the healthcare system, so that AI strengthens skills and services instead of weakening them.
Preparing for an Omnipresent AI World
The conclusions recall the urgency of preparing people to live and work in a world where AI will be omnipresent.
This means strengthening critical thinking, creativity, judgement, and digital literacy, so that AI does not become a cognitive shortcut but an ally in the development of skills. It also means introducing technology into healthcare and education in a transparent, monitored way that is attentive to equity, so as to bridge gaps where resources are scarce. In a broader perspective, the report invites us to see AI as a possible direction towards new horizons of development, especially for the most fragile countries, provided it is accompanied by solid institutions, equitable access, and conscious choices. Technology, the authors remind us, does not determine the future: people do. And only by putting human capabilities, freedom, and imagination at the centre will it be possible to make AI a lever to expand opportunities for all.
Insights from Global Leaders and Academia
Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP, commented: "The choices we make in the coming years will define the legacy of this technological transition for human development. With the right policies and a focus centred on people, AI can become a fundamental bridge towards new knowledge, skills, and ideas.” Andrea Sironi, Chairman of Generali and President of Bocconi University, added: "In a global scenario characterised by an unprecedented impulse in investments in AI, no country or institution can afford to remain a spectator. It is essential to participate proactively to ensure that technological transformation becomes an opportunity and not a factor of division. This requires the integration of different perspectives within the ecosystem to build a governance model capable of guiding change through sustainable growth.” Anna Chiara Lucchini, Group Head of Leadership Development and Academy at Generali, noted: "The true engine of progress remains human capital. Technology can enormously amplify our potential, but only if people have the skills to guide and use it consciously. For Generali, this means continuing to put people at the centre.”
Addressing Gender Equality and Structural Risks
Francesco Billari, Rector of Bocconi University, concluded: "The rapid diffusion of AI is reshaping economic and social systems. Within this transformation, gender equality faces both risks and opportunities. Generative AI can indeed accentuate existing disparities or contribute to more inclusive outcomes. These effects are not predetermined, but depend on the design and governance of AI systems. Universities are uniquely positioned to produce rigorous research and educate students to become critical users of these technologies.”
The Insurance Sector as a Stabilising Force
In this context, the insurance sector plays a leading role thanks to its expertise in risk management, long-term investment capacity, and its awareness-raising function. Insurance companies act as a stabilising force in times of uncertainty and contribute to reducing the protection gap for businesses, communities, and families worldwide, focusing on innovation so that people can better orient themselves in this evolving context. Generali, as a responsible corporate citizen, is strongly committed to strategic public-private partnerships. UNDP and Generali collaborate to improve the financial resilience of vulnerable communities, MSMEs, and global value chains against climate risks. Within the framework of this multi-year partnership, they develop research and tools to incentivise innovative insurance solutions, placing innovation at the heart of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda.
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