Scientific computing in the INFN is going through a phase of strong evolution, driven by the exponential growth of the data produced by the experiments, the adoption of advanced computing technologies and the affirmation of Artificial Intelligence as a strategic tool also for research. The increased needs for HPC, federated cloud and hybrid infrastructures, together with the new paradigms introduced by the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and PNRR projects, require innovative solutions for effective access to heterogeneous and distributed resources.

At the same time, the energy and economic sustainability of computer centers and the rapid evolution of hardware and software technologies require careful analysis and planning for the evolution of the entire ecosystem. AI applications, from generalist models to specialized research systems, open up new opportunities but also ethical, legal and organizational challenges.

The workshop will also address the issue of cybersecurity in a context of growing regulatory complexity, the impact of AI on ICT activities, and the new potential of the research network, from fiber sensing to quantum technologies, essential to support the next generation of scientific applications.

The workshop is an opportunity to outline strategies and tools that will allow the INFN community to successfully address the challenges of scientific computing in the age of Artificial Intelligence.