Evidence of AI and generative AI adoption in Italian firms

This research paper provides a thorough exploration into the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within Italian businesses at the beginning of 2024, detailing the extent of AI integration, its effectiveness, the readiness of companies, and the impact on the workforce. The study surveyed a diverse group of 237 respondents, encompassing a range of positions from C-level executives to technical specialists across various sectors, including manufacturing, IT services, healthcare, and finance. The companies represented in the survey vary in size from small startups to large multinational corporations, offering a comprehensive view of AI's penetration and influence across different business models and scales.
The initial findings highlight that AI integration varies significantly across departments, with a notable number of companies engaging as end-users of AI technologies. These applications span from operational efficiency improvements to innovation in product and service offerings.
The paper reports a positive trend towards increased AI investment, with a majority of companies planning to enhance their AI budget allocations, demonstrating the strategic importance attributed to AI in the Italian business context.
However, the journey towards AI integration is not without its challenges. The research identifies critical hurdles such as data availability and structuring issues, a significant skills gap, and the absence of clear use cases for AI deployment. Despite these obstacles, there's a prevailing optimism about AI's capability to positively impact the workforce, with expectations leaning towards job creation rather than displacement.
The research advocates for a multi-faceted approach to AI adoption, emphasizing the need for cross-functional AI initiatives, the establishment of specialized AI teams, and the crucial role of AI in fostering creativity and enhancing operational processes. It also underscores the importance of ethical considerations and stringent data quality management in navigating the complexities of AI adoption. Through this analytical lens, the paper presents a nuanced understanding of the transformative potential and challenges of AI in the Italian corporate sphere, offering strategic insights for businesses navigating the evolving landscape of digital innovation.
   

Authors:

Grazia Garlatti Costa
University of Trieste - Assistant Professor - GRAZIA.GARLATTICOSTA@units.it

Roberto Pugliese
MIB Trieste School of Management - Adjunct Faculty - pugliese@mib.edu /
Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste - Director of ICT - roberto.pugliese@elettra.eu

Francesco Venier
MIB Trieste School of Management - Dean of Executive Education – venier@mib.edu /
University of Trieste - Associate Professor - venier@units.it