Have you ever wondered what the future of computing looks like? Well, right here, in front of you, stands a place that holds many of the answers. You are looking at the Dipartimento di Informatica, the Department of Computer Science at the University of Turin. This building, known as the “Piero della Francesca” center, is a hub of innovation, a place where minds come together to push the boundaries of technology.
Founded back in 1971 as the Istituto di Scienze dell’Informazione, the department quickly became a pioneer in the field of computer science, particularly in artificial intelligence. From the very beginning, the research focused on speech recognition with a deep connection to CSELT, the research center of Telecom Italia. In those days, the department was already at the forefront of AI research in Europe, and its impact continues to be felt today.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the Dipartimento’s story is its unique connection to a remarkable AI pioneer: Renato de Mori. He led the department’s efforts in speech recognition in the early days and played a crucial part in shaping the field. The early Seventies and Eighties saw the emergence of many new areas of AI research, led by a group of researchers coming from de Mori’s team. They pioneered the development of approximate reasoning, natural language processing, knowledge representation, expert systems and machine learning.
Today, the department continues to build upon this legacy, fostering research and education in artificial intelligence, data science, and beyond. The Dipartimento di Informatica in Turin is not just a place of learning; it is a place of discovery, where the future takes shape. Its story is one of innovation, collaboration, and a deep commitment to advancing the field of computer science.