- 93% of Italian professionals are familiar with at least one AI tool, but 75% have never received structured training; 51% desire it but haven’t had the opportunity.
- 43% of respondents anticipate a reduction in employment over the next 5 years: while 44% of managers see new job opportunities in their sector, only 17% of employees perceive them.
- 68% of executives predict an increase in inequality among workers linked to education and digital skills.
- Adoption varies by sector: Education is the most advanced (53%), followed by Audiovisual (43%), while Healthcare lags at 28%.
- In Italy, AI is primarily used for entertainment (39%) and content generation (35%), with ChatGPT as the most widespread tool.
Rome Business School presents the results of the international survey “Artificial Intelligence and Future Employment — for Companies and Managers,” conducted by Planeta Formación y Universidades. The study, developed with research institute GAD3, provides the most up-to-date snapshot of AI penetration within Italian organizations.
During the presentation at the Rome Business School campus, Patricia Abad (Head of Qualitative Research, GAD3) highlighted that while 93% of professionals have heard of AI tools, 75% report no structured training in their workplace. Antonio Ragusa, Dean of RBS, stated: “The challenge of AI is not technological, but cultural and organizational. Tools are available, but we lack the capacity to integrate them consciously. Without continuous training, innovation will move faster than people, widening existing gaps.”
AI: Widely Known, Rarely Studied
Italy faces a “training paradox.” Curiosity is the prevailing emotion (58%), followed by anxiety (30%) and hope (15%). However, a clear gap exists between leadership and staff: 66% of managers use AI professionally, compared to only 39% of employees. Furthermore, 50% of executives have received training, while only 24% of employees have had the same opportunity—a gap that is even more critical in SMEs and the healthcare sector.
International Comparison: Rising Adoption, Lagging Education
The Barometer compares Italy with Spain, France, and Colombia. While awareness is high across all countries (92-95%), the training deficit is stark: 75% of Italians have had no courses, similar to Spain (76%), but far behind Colombia (58%) and France, where corporate training is more structured. In terms of organizational adoption, Italy (41%) outperforms Spain (22%) but trails France (54%), the European leader.
Ethics and Usage: How AI is Used in the Workplace
The ethical framework remains a critical issue: 76% of Italian employees believe their company has not adopted ethical protocols for AI. In terms of practical application, Italy stands out for using AI in entertainment (39%)—nearly double the rate of other countries—and content generation (35%). Sector-specific uses include clinical research in healthcare (41%) and production in the audiovisual sector (57%).
Priorities for Italy: Training to Stay Ahead
The Barometer suggests three urgent priorities for the Italian market:
- Structural Training: Move beyond episodic workshops and integrate AI into professional development at all levels.
- Ethical Governance: Close the gap by building shared ethical protocols currently missing in 76% of organizations.
- Internal Communication: Bridge the perception gap for the 42% of workers who do not use AI because they do not yet see its utility.
“It is not a technological problem—AI is here and accessible,” the report concludes. “It is an organizational architecture problem. Those who invest in structured training build a competitive advantage; those who don’t will see inequality grow.”
