Towards an Italian AI Renaissance: An In-Depth Analysis of AI Policy and Governance in Italy

This project was the winner of the "Best Governance Explainer" prize on our AI Governance (April 2024) course. The text below is an excerpt from the final project.

With the approval on March 13, 2024, of the AI Act, the European Union has demonstrated its readiness to deal with emerging technological trends and interest in becoming the driving force for the safe development and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) at the global level.

In this framework, EU Member States are in the unique position of designing their own AI future within the safety ranges agreed at Union level. As AI presents both opportunities and challenges that push policymakers and the entire society to evolve to address its enormous implications, it becomes imperative to get a clearer perspective on the path that each European country is taking. Italy, in particular, plays an emerging proactive role shaped by its unique social, cultural, economic and historical profile and the policy priorities of its governments.

This post intends to provide a general overview of the Italian AI policy context within the lenses of AI governance and safety. Emphasis will be given to presenting the goals and content of the most recent initiatives at the national and international level that the current government has undertaken. Attention will also be drawn to describing the role of the most relevant actors that, directly or indirectly, are shaping AI policy-making in Italy. This overview is instrumental in helping to identify the key trends, challenges, and opportunities ahead that will mostly be part of the Italian AI agenda in the years to come.

To read the full project submission, click here.