The University of Palermo hosted the Palermo International Workshop on Ethics and Responsibility of AI in Medicine on 6–7 June 2024, bringing together leading scholars and practitioners to explore the ethical, social, and medical challenges arising at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and healthcare.

The two-day event featured a series of engaging talks, panel discussions, and presentations by international experts, including:
• Pii Telakivi – Helsinki University, Finland
• Steven S. Gouveia – University of Porto, Portugal & Visiting Fellow, University of Palermo
• Simona Tiribelli – University of Macerata, Italy
• Tomi Kokkonen – Helsinki University, Finland
• Silvia Dadà – University of Pisa, Italy
• Lucia Migliorelli – Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy

The workshop explored a wide range of critical topics, such as:
• The conceptual limits of AI in patient care
• Detection of depression using pre-trained embeddings in complex medical conditions
• Vulnerability and dependence in an era dominated by AI agents
• Environmental and ethical considerations in neonatal monitoring (Green AI vs. Red AI)
• Emotions, empathy, and trust in medical AI
• Legal, ethical, and societal implications of AI in clinical practice

The sessions fostered interdisciplinary dialogue, combining perspectives from engineering, computer science, medicine, and ethics, with a focus on practical applications and responsible innovation in healthcare technologies.

Special recognition was given to the Department of Engineering at the University of Palermo and the A.S.CENT. - Centre of Advanced Studies, whose support and organization were crucial to the success of this international workshop.

This event marked an important milestone in advancing global conversations on ethical AI in medicine, highlighting the need to balance technological innovation with human values, empathy, and professional responsibility.