The right question is not “AI or people”

“AI or people?” may (perhaps) be a good title, but it certainly does not reflect current developments in human-machine interaction, nor does it do justice to the potential of this exchange.

At the Decision Science Summit 2026 in Madrid — organised by the Decision Science Alliance  and hosted by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid — two days of discussions highlighted a clear principle: excellence in Decision Intelligence is not about machines deciding for people. The most impactful results occur when machines calculate scenarios, forecasts, and alternatives at speeds no human analyst could match, presenting them as actionable options for human intelligence.

The final choice remains with the individual, who possesses crucial qualities that machines lack critical thinking, an understanding of socio-relational constraints, and deep knowledge of subtle contextual dynamics.

Beyond the high-level presentations, the most valuable aspect of the Summit was its community. Researchers, professionals, and startups from logistics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance gathered with a shared goal: finding faster, more sustainable, and impactful ways to turn data and models into trusted, actionable decisions.

For us at Optit, participating in these industry discussions is essential. It allows us to gain new perspectives, share lessons learned from over 15 years in the field, and help shape the future of this ecosystem.

Optit’s contribution: three sessions, one core message

Optit was represented at the Decision Science Summit by CEO Matteo Pozzi, who took part in three distinct sessions with different formats and objectives.

  • In the presentation “Beyond Efficiency: Decision Intelligence for Triple Bottom Line Resilience“, he outlined Optit’s energy optimisation work at Milan Malpensa Airport. Operating margins increased by 21%, full return on investment was achieved in under three months, and planning time was reduced by 90% thanks to a human-in-the-loop approach. This proves that a Decision Support System (DSS) combining data-driven, model-based, and AI methods can multiply economic, environmental, and social impacts simultaneously.
  • In the session “From Tools to Control: What Are AI Vendors Really Delivering?“ — chaired by David López (Esade) alongside the Spanish Navy, Exentriq, and baobab AI — the main takeaway was clear: organisations do not buy AI to replace people. They adopt it to combine computational power with human judgment, maintaining control and governance over complex processes.
  • The EURO Working Group on the Practice of OR operates within EURO (the Association of European Operational Research Societies) to bridge academic research and real-world business challenges. As a co-founder of the group, Matteo Pozzi co-chaired a joint session with the EURO Practitioners’ Forum and the Decision Science Alliance. This meeting marked a significant step towards building permanent collaboration channels between research and industry, ensuring quantitative models move beyond academic conferences to where real-world decisions are made.

The value of AI is not in technology. It is in people.

Keynote presentation, panel discussion, workshop: three different settings, one common question. What is the best way to integrate data, models, and AI into decision-making within complex, fast-changing environments?

This is the challenge Optit addresses every day. We combine operational research, data science, artificial intelligence, consultancy, and technology into a single, cohesive process — from problem definition to operational solutions that make businesses more performant, digital, and competitive.

If your organisation operates in a complex and fast-changing environment, get in touch to discuss how we can support your processes.