Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming an essential component of modern business, revolutionizing the way companies operate and engage with global markets. A study, part of the first edition of the ‘EY Italy AI Barometer’ conducted by EY, offers an in-depth look at how AI is transforming the Italian business landscape. The analysis, which involved over 4,700 managers from nine European countries, including 528 professionals from Italian companies, reveals an optimistic and dynamic picture of the adoption of these advanced technologies in our country. According to the results, almost three-quarters of Italians interviewed (76%) have had direct experience with Artificial Intelligence, demonstrating a growing familiarity with these technologies. The majority of respondents use AI in their private lives (43%) or in the work context (12%), while 20% use it in both areas. This data reflects a growing integration of AI in daily and professional life, supported by widespread optimism about its potential.
Italy stands out in Europe for its rapid adoption of AI in the workplace, with 24% of respondents saying that AI is already impacting their work, exceeding the European average of 19%. Additionally, 46% of respondents expect the impact of AI applications to increase significantly in the next three years. This trend is particularly strong in the energy, financial services, and media and telecommunications sectors, where AI is seen as a key enabler of growth and innovation.
There is no shortage of challenges
Challenges remain, however. Twenty-four percent of respondents believe that AI could replace parts of jobs on a large scale, and 76 percent expect the number of employees to decline as these technologies become more established. This scenario highlights the importance of training and professional retraining, an area where many Italian companies still have work to do better. In fact, 37 percent of respondents say their company should invest more in AI training, while only 16 percent say they are satisfied with the training they receive on the job. The majority of professionals, 55 percent, are engaging in self-training to fill these gaps, with a preference for in-person training, workshops, and online courses. This indicates a strong self-determination among Italian workers in wanting to acquire advanced skills, but at the same time a need for more structured support from companies.
Tangible benefits
Despite these challenges, the benefits of AI are already tangible. 58% of Italian managers say that the use of AI has allowed them to reduce costs, increase profits, or both. AI adoption in Italy is having a particularly positive impact on those in managerial roles, with 69% of these professionals recognizing the effectiveness of these technologies compared to 49% of those in non-managerial roles. Currently, Italian companies are implementing AI especially in key functions such as marketing, cybersecurity, data protection, and employee support. These sectors highlight how AI not only increases operational efficiency, but plays a crucial role in improving the security and competitiveness of companies.
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