Women in AI: Andrea’s story, blending craftsmanship and innovation
As part of the Women in AI project, promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and funded by the Centre for Public Impact through the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund, Andrea Leite Cavalcanti’s story illustrates how artificial intelligence can become a valuable ally even in professions most closely linked to traditional craftsmanship.
Born in 1968, based in Perugia and owner of the sole trader business Myideart, Andrea took part in the training programme run between May and July 2026 in collaboration with the Umbria Chamber of Commerce and Punto Impresa Digitale.
After completing the Google AI Essentials course on Coursera, Andrea consolidated the skills she had acquired through practical modules and in-depth sessions organised by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and led by trainer Massimo Marzocco. This programme enabled her to gain hands-on experience of using generative artificial intelligence in her day-to-day work as a goldsmith and retailer, from jewellery design to managing her own business.
The interview
Andrea, could you tell us a little about your background and how your passion for craftsmanship began?
“I’m a craftswoman at heart; I’ve always worked with my hands. I’m Brazilian and moved to Italy in 1989; I’ve been making costume jewellery ever since, because the world of jewellery has always been my passion. In 2021, I set up my own sole trader business, Myideart. At the moment, my business is registered as a sole trader because I also have another job in the family business, but craftsmanship is my ‘plan B’ which I’m developing for the future. I create wax models which I then send off to be cast into bronze or silver pieces.”
What prompted you to enrol on a course in artificial intelligence, starting from scratch?
“It was curiosity. I have a daughter who’s a graphic designer, and she’d been getting me to use ChatGPT for very simple, everyday tasks, which piqued my curiosity. I wanted to understand whether it could be a valuable resource in other areas that I hadn’t yet learnt to utilise properly. I saw something on social media, looked into it on the Foundation’s website and signed up. I wanted to improve operational processes and keep the business competitive, particularly in the creative and marketing areas.”
For a creative person who works with her hands, what has been your experience with AI? Do you see it as an obstacle or a help?
“At first, I viewed it with a bit of scepticism. We artisans know that in a handmade piece you can see the imperfection, the spark that didn’t quite catch; AI will never be able to replicate exactly what we do. But it’s a great help. For example, when a client asks me for a quote, I make a wax model and ask the AI to show me what it would look like in bronze or silver: it gives me rough renderings that help the client visualise the colour and the final effect”.
Are there other practical ways in which you use these tools in your work?
“Yes, it’s brilliant for the technical side of things.
It helps me with complex calculations which, for someone like me who’s a relative newcomer to jewellery-making, are essential. I recently created a ring: I took the measurements of my wax model, fed the information into the AI and asked it to position an initial and tell me how many 0.01 ct diamonds I’d need. It gave me a very precise result, which I was then able to pass on to the experts at the foundry for the final production. It saved me a lot of time.”
Apart from the creative side, how does AI help you with the day-to-day running of your business?
“I do everything myself: from creating the piece to bookkeeping, from emails to Instagram posts. AI allows me to keep up with the times. It gives me the feeling of ‘keeping up with the times’, of not having been left behind despite being nearly 60. It helps me create social media content with specific graphics – something I never even imagined I could do before. It’s like having staff to help you manage everything; you just need to know how to organise yourself.”
What advice would you give to other women or female entrepreneurs who view this technology with trepidation?
“I’d say to let your guard down and get to know it. Only through knowledge can you judge whether something is good for your business or not. Many people think that with AI ‘it’s all fake’, but that’s not the case. It’s a tool – just as the internet was in its day – that needs to be used properly and can be a huge help, especially for those in manual trades who have to manage everything on their own.”
Intervista a cura di Alberta Testa, social media manager
