Human After All? How Humans and Machines Define Contemporary Creativity

What remains human, after all, when machines learn to create, compose, generate content and make decisions? “Human After All?” is the question that opens MIR 2026 and starts a conversation on one of the most pressing issues of our time: the relationship between artificial intelligence and human intelligence. The conference explores the evolving landscape of the music, entertainment and digital content industries, where AI is both a powerful driver of innovation and a complex challenge for creativity, rights, business models and governance.

In this context, technology does not replace people, but reshapes their role. Humans are no longer just users of tools, but active participants in how these tools are developed and applied. The panel brings together institutions, music industry professionals, legal experts and technology specialists to examine opportunities, risks and future directions for artificial intelligence in the creative ecosystem. At a time when intelligence is often measured in data and computing power, MIR brings the focus back to what makes us human: the ability to interpret, to choose, to feel and to guide innovation. Because, after all, “human after all”: technology reflects those who create it.

Speakers:

• Brando Benifei – Member of the European Parliament, representative for the AI Act
• Marco Angelini – Associate Professor in Computer Engineering at Università degli Studi di Roma Link, member of the Government's AI Commission
• Sergio Cerruti – Former President of AFI
• Andrea Miccichè – President of Nuovo IMAIE
• Bruno Sconocchia – President of Assoconcerti
• Federico Bagnoli Rossi – President of FAPAV