ROME, Dec 15 (Reuters) – The number of Italian firms using artificial intelligence has doubled over the past year, according to a report released by the national statistics bureau, ISTAT. Despite this growth, the overall adoption of AI remains limited, particularly in a country characterized by a strong presence of small and medium-sized enterprises. This year, 16.4% of firms with at least 10 employees reported utilizing some form of AI technology, a significant increase from 8.2% in 2024 and 5.0% in 2023.
While the uptick in AI usage indicates growing interest and potential in the technology, a staggering 83.6% of companies have yet to adopt AI, citing barriers such as a lack of skills (58.6%), unclear regulation (47.3%), data protection concerns (43.2%), and high costs (43.0%). Notably, approximately 14.8% of firms expressed that AI held no utility for their operations, a slight rise from 14.3% the previous year. ISTAT did not provide a specific figure for 2024.
The report highlights that larger organizations are seeing the most pronounced increases in AI adoption. Among firms employing at least 250 people, the percentage using AI surged to 53.1%, up from 32.5% in 2024. Smaller companies also made progress, with AI usage increasing to 15.7% from 7.7%. This suggests a growing recognition of AI’s potential, particularly among larger firms that have the resources to invest in advanced technologies.
Uptake of AI technology was highest in specific sectors, including IT services (53%), video production (49.5%), and telecommunications (37.3%). The most common applications of AI included text data extraction (70.8%), generative AI for language and images (59.1%), and speech-to-text technologies (41.3%). These figures reflect the diverse ways in which companies are beginning to leverage AI to enhance their operations and service offerings.
As Italy continues to grapple with the challenges of integrating advanced technologies into its traditional business landscape, the findings from ISTAT underscore both the progress made and the obstacles that remain. With a significant portion of businesses still hesitant to adopt AI, ongoing efforts will be needed to address the skills gap, regulatory uncertainties, and cost concerns that hinder wider implementation. As the global economy increasingly relies on technological innovation, the ability of Italian firms to adapt and integrate AI will be essential for maintaining competitiveness in the evolving market.
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