Compared to the text prior to the Senate's approval on first reading, already commented on by Confindustria in a memorandum in September 2024, the bill 'Provisions and delegations to the government on artificial intelligence', now before the Chamber of Deputies on second reading, is more in line with EU Regulation 2024/1689 (AI Act) and has received some generally ameliorative changes.

In particular, Confindustria welcomes the expansion in Article 8, which also allows the private for-profit entities to process personal data in the health sectorprovided they collaborate with public or non-profit organisations, in projects for research and scientific experimentation in the realisation of artificial intelligence systems for healthcare purposes.

On the other hand, it notes the critical nature of Article 16, which delegates to the government the definition of a discipline for thetraining of AI systemsas being excessively general in its aims and potentially contradictory to Article 3 of the same DdL. As it stands, the article will create additional regulatory burdens than those already existing for Italian companies and risks increasing theregulatory uncertainty reducing the competitiveness of Italian companies.

Confindustria, on the other hand, positively assesses the STEM skills enhancement and the dissemination of digital skills.

Finally, Confindustria believes that the allocation of EUR 1 billion in the CDP Venture Capital Plan 2024-28, not only for investments in artificial intelligence but in a large number of enabling technologies, can fragmenting resources and be insufficient compared to other countries.

It invites exploration of the possibility of directing funds towards AI start-ups and SMEs specialising in strategic niches for the Italian economy.