The number of Italian companies using artificial intelligence has doubled.

In one year, the number of Italian companies using artificial intelligence has doubled, reaching 19.5% of the total. This is revealed by recent Unioncamere-Dintec surveys. Over 50% of large enterprises and about 15% of small ones have adopted AI.

However, at least six out of ten companies, though interested, are forced to forgo the technology due to a lack of digital skills. Exactly 58.6% of SMEs cite the lack of skills as the primary barrier to adoption, yet only 7% have initiated structured training programs on the subject. The issue will be at the center of the second Southern Italy Day, scheduled for September 24th in Bari.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that enables computers and systems to perform typically human tasks, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. Its adoption among Italian companies has accelerated significantly over the past year, rising from a very low share to the current 19.5%, also thanks to the opportunities for efficiency and innovation it offers.

However, the adoption path is hindered by a structural problem: the lack of trained personnel. This gap between available technology and necessary skills has pushed institutions such as the chamber of commerce system to take action with training initiatives. The Giornata del Mezzogiorno in Bari is part of this effort, proposing reflections on how to bridge the gap and best leverage the potential of AI, also in light of the recent Italian law regulating the sector, the first of its kind in Europe.