Diego TODARO

Subject matter expert

Department of Asian and North African Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice

Education

2019-2023: Ph.D. in Asian and African Studies (cum laude), Ca' Foscari University of Venice and Heidelberg University (double degree). Dissertation title: Ambition, Capacity and Reality: the Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector in Shanghai.
2007-2009: Master's Degree in Public Policy (CAP:4.28/5.00), National University of Singapore
2004-2007: M.A. in Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia (cum laude), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
2001-2004: B.A. in Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia (cum laude), Ca’ Foscari University of Venice 

Additional training

2005-2006 (September-June): advanced-level Chinese language courses, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 
2004 (February-June): intermediate-level Chinese language courses, East China Normal University, Shanghai

Scholarships

3-year Ph.D. full scholarship, Italian Ministry of University and Research/Ca' Foscari University of Venice (September 2019)
2-year Master's degree scholarship, National University of Singapore (July 2007)
1-year scholarship to study in China (Nanjing Normal University), China Scholarship Council (June 2005)

Publications

• The Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Sector in Shanghai. Ambition, Capacity and Reality.
  The book examines how Shanghai aims to improve public service provision by accelerating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector. After clarifying the sociotechnical factors that shape the use of AI in this area, the book delves into the AI policy environment and AI ecosystem of Shanghai to gauge the city’s capacity to implement public sector AI applications. Then it examines how this capacity translates into real-world policy initiatives through the investigation of case studies. It highlights the capabilities that determine the strengths and limitations of such initiatives in deploying AI in the public sector, and it assesses their impacts on public service provision in Shanghai. By using the findings on Shanghai to gain a deeper understanding of key topics in public sector AI research, the book also contributes new knowledge about the use of AI to improve the provision of public services. (Palgrave Macmillan:Singapore, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-97-0597-9). March 2024
• “One city, two networks”: Big Data and artificial intelligence for smart public governance in Shanghai
  Scholarly essay on major policy initiatives that leverage Big Data and artificial intelligence to enhance the delivery of administrative services and urban management services in Shanghai. Published in English in: Timoteo, M., Verri, B., Nanni, R. (eds). Quo Vadis, Sovereignty? New Conceptual Boundaries in the Digital Age of China. Philosophical Studies Series, vol 154, pp. 91-108, Springer (Cham), https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41566-1_6. November 2023
• La tecnologia nel sistema giudiziario cinese: origini e sviluppi delle “corti intelligenti” [Technology in China’s judicial system: origins and developments of the “smart courts”]: Scholarly essay on the main applications of AI and digital technologies in the Chinese judicial system, the regulations that sanction such applications, and the implications for the operations of the “smart courts”. Published in Italian in Annuario di diritto comparato e di studi legislativi (research journal that publishes scholarly contributions on comparative law, subject to a double-blind peer review process; printed version year 2022, vol. XIII, pp. 269-291, ISSN 2039-9871). October 2022
• Tecnologia e azione pubblica in Cina: il codice sanitario individuale e le principali tendenze delle politiche digitali contemporanee [Technology and public governance in China: individual health code and main trends in China’s contemporary digital policies] 
  Paper on China’s contemporary digital policies, produced in the framework of the project “La geopolitica del digitale” by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (national think tank dedicated to international politics). Paper published in Italian in IAI Papers (Issue 20/46, December 2020, ISBN/ISSN/DOI: 978-88-9368-168, https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/tecnologia-e-azione-pubblica-cina). December 2020
• Efficienza e controllo: l'uso della tecnologia nei tribunali cinesi [Efficiency and control: the use of technology in Chinese courts]
  Paper on China’s progress toward developing technology-assisted courts and the main issues related to the use of technology in the Chinese judicial system, published in Italian on Mondo Cinese (national magazine specialized in contemporary Chinese studies, printed version nr. 167, Year XLVII – N. 1, pp. 67-79, ISBN 979-12-80045-10-2). October 2020
• California Dreamin': le 21 Silicon Valley cinesi [California Dreamin’: China’s 21 Silicon Valleys] 
  Article on China's National Innovation Demonstration Zones (Guojia Zizhu Chuangxin Shifanqu) and the role of the government in supporting technological development in China, published in Italian on Wired (national magazine, printed version n. 94, Autumn 2020, ISSN 2035-7397). October 2020
• Recensione a Red Mirror, il nostro futuro si scrive in Cina (di Simone Pieranni) [Diego Todaro: book review of Red Mirror, our future is written in China (by Simone Pieranni)] 
  Review of the book: Pieranni, S., 2020. Red Mirror: il nostro futuro si scrive in Cina. Gius. Laterza & Figli Spa, Bari-Roma. The book describes the rapid evolution of China's technological landscape and various aspects related to the integration of IoT, big data, artificial intelligence and other technologies in the life of Chinese citizens. Review published in Italian on Sinosfere (academic journal, ISSN 2612-6982, http://sinosfere.com/2020/08/27/diego-todaro-recensione-a-red-mirror-il-nostro-futuro-si-scrive-in-cina-di-simone-pieranni). August 2020
• Crisi del coronavirus: una svolta per il modello digitale cinese? [The coronavirus crisis: a turning point in China’s digital model?]
  Commentary on the use of AI in China’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak, published in Italian on the official website of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (national think tank dedicated to international politics, ISSN 2280-9228, https://www.affarinternazionali.it/2020/02/una-svolta-per-il-modello-digitale-cinese/). February 2020
• L’uso dell’intelligenza artificiale nelle politiche locali in Cina [The use of artificial intelligence in China’s local policies] 
  Article on the use of AI in China’s local policies, published in Italian on Il Manifesto (national newspaper, paper version and website https://ilmanifesto.it/il-sogno-di-una-cina-leader-nellai-e-autosufficiente/), and Sinosfere (academic journal, ISSN 2612-6982, http://sinosfere.com/2019/11/11/diego-todaro-luso-dellintelligenza-artificiale-nelle-politiche-locali-in-cina/). November 2019

Academic and other activities

• Assistant supervisor, B.A. and M.A. final theses, Languages and Economic and Legal Institutions in Eastern Asia, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
  Video seminar on the Social Credit System in China, M.A. course on Chinese law held by Prof. Cavalieri, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
• Participation to the online presentation of Mondo Cinese n. 167, event organized by Fondazione Italia Cina and Università degli Studi Roma Tre (https://www.fondazioneitaliacina.it/m/cesif/area-news/fondazione/2020/12/915/). 18 December 2020
• Interview on the use of artificial intelligence in China's public policies for Orizzontinternazionali, Italian website of research and analysis of international events focused on Asia and Africa (https://www.orizzontinternazionali.org/2021/01/11/intelligenza-artificiale-politiche-sociali-cina-intervista-diego-todaro/). 11 January 2021

Research networks

2018: Young China Watchers, Shanghai 
2011: Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Alumni Shanghai Chapter 

Work experience

From November 2010 to February 2023 I lived and worked in Shanghai, where I gained significant work experience in both the private and public sectors.