Bank of Italy Governor: AI Adoption Could Lift Productivity Over 1 Point Annually

Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta said on May 29, 2026 that artificial intelligence could raise Italy’s weak labor productivity by more than one percentage point per year under a rapid, wide-adoption scenario. Speaking at the central bank’s annual assembly, Panetta contrasted that with a 0.2-point annual gain under slow adoption, underscoring the stakes for the country. Currently only 30% of Italian firms use AI and just 5% do so intensively, leaving Italy behind international benchmarks, he noted. Panetta called for a stronger venture capital and private equity ecosystem to drive AI innovation. The Bank of Italy has opened talks with leading global AI developers and domestic banks on adoption strategies.