President Mattarella opens Amatrice school year, warns AI can't replace teachers

President Sergio Mattarella arrived in Amatrice to launch the academic year, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the devastating earthquake. He paid tribute to the victims by placing an laurel wreath before the memorial and acknowledged the contributions of the rescue teams present. In a Q&A with students, Mattarella emphasized that artificial intelligence cannot fulfill the nuanced, responsive duties of a teacher, citing the need for real-time clarification and personal judgment.

He reflected on the cultural value of memorizing poetry, noting that such practices have faded but remain a source of freedom through education. The president also revealed his favorite school subject was history and joked with an elementary student about reinstating the traditional "sì" chant at the conclusion of the national anthem, deferring the decision to teachers. The event highlighted both remembrance of past tragedy and forward-looking educational values.