Panel looks at ethical and legal implication of impact
of Artificial Intelligence on jewellery industry
Panellists in the joint session of CIBJO’s Ethical Commission and Technology Committee, which looked at artificial intelligence’s impacts, during the 2026 CIBJO Congress, on September 5, 2026 in Vicenza, Italy.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
Industry analysts gave insights at a CIBJO Congress panel on how best to harness AI for the benefit of the gems and jewellery industry.The panel was jointly moderated by Sara Yood, President of the the CIBJO Ethics Commission and Stephane Fischler, Chair of the CIBJO Technology Committee.
AI is still very much a learning experience for jewellery industry participants and will deliver additional value as it is increasingly rolled out across the industry, including in retail, said Jacques Voorhees, founder and CEO of Icecap.ai.
He spoke of the need for greater focus on how AI can be used to protect intellectual property.
“If communications with a consumer move forward via AI, customer service online at retail will transform into real-time digital conversations between the store and customer.”
Paola De Luca, CEO and founder of The Futurist, spoke of the importance of using AI strategically in business operations, not just for daily use.
“The challenge will be how to use AI strategically,” she said.
“It is fashionable to know about AI, but people still know very little about it. You need to know how to drive it.”
Ms. De Luca said AI would drive forward live show events and exhibitions inside shops.
She also referred to the ongoing need for human craftsmanship despite AI’s capabilities to enhance efficiencies in design and manufacturing.
“We need to see things more in perspective. It is important to find more time to be ethical, human — to create jewellery with more meaning.”
Tzafrir Engelhart, CEO of Sarine Technologies, said AI would speed up business operations.
“With AI, we are able to move faster — and improve the way we operate,” he said.
“AI is very strategic, and we at Sarine treat it as such.”
Tai Wong, director of innovation and product development at PGI, said AI helped speed up activities from marketing to design.
He said AI could boost demand for precious metals such as platinum in jewellery through the development of new, more efficient and cost-effective alloys.
Overreliance on AI is a risk for jewellery industry participants, as it could discourage people from thinking for themselves to solve problems, Mr Fischler said.
