Finance
Italy Is Euro Zone Laggard on AI Usage, Official Data Shows
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 22, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 22, 2026
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Italy trails EU peers in AI use: only 19.9% of Italians aged 16–74 used generative AI in 2025, well below the EU average of 32.7%. Corporate uptake also lags, especially among SMEs, despite rapid growth in larger firms.
Italy Among Lowest in Euro Zone for Artificial Intelligence Usage in 2024
Artificial Intelligence Adoption and Digital Skills in Italy
Low Rates of AI Usage Compared to European Average
ROME, April 22 (Reuters) - Italy has one of the lowest rates of artificial intelligence use in Europe, data showed on Wednesday, highlighting a broader shortfall in digital skills in the euro zone's third-largest economy.
Just 19.9% of Italians aged 16 to 74 used artificial intelligence tools last year, compared with a European average of 32.7%, national statistics agency ISTAT said in its first such survey.
Comparison with Other European Countries
Only Romania had a lower score, with 17.8%, it added.
Demographic and Digital Skills Challenges
Italy's Aging Population
Italy has the oldest population in the European Union, with a median age of 48.7 in 2024 compared with an EU average of 44.7, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat, and it lags many peers on key digital skills indicators.
Internet Usage Deficit
Comparison with Other EU Countries
Nearly 10% of Italy's population had not used internet in the previous three months, according to a 2025 Eurostat survey. Only Poland, Portugal, Lithuania, Greece, Bulgaria and Croatia recorded higher shares.
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Gavin Jones)
Key Takeaways
- •In 2025 just 19.9% of Italians aged 16–74 used generative AI, second-lowest in EU after Romania (17.8%) (9colonne.it).
- •Only 16.4% of Italian firms with ≥10 employees used AI in 2025 (up from 8.2% in 2024), with over half (53.1%) of large firms (≥250 employees) adopting AI (telecompaper.com).
- •Italy’s population exhibits a digital skills gap: only ~46% possess basic digital skills, trailing the EU average (~55.5%), further hindering AI adoption (digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Italy is euro zone laggard on AI usage, official data shows
1What percentage of Italians used artificial intelligence tools in 2023?
Just 19.9% of Italians aged 16 to 74 used artificial intelligence tools in 2023, according to ISTAT.
2How does Italy's AI usage compare to the European average?
Italy's AI usage rate of 19.9% is significantly below the European average of 32.7%.
3Which country in Europe has a lower AI usage rate than Italy?
Only Romania had a lower AI usage rate than Italy, with 17.8%.
4What is Italy's median age compared to the EU average?
Italy's median age is 48.7 in 2024, higher than the EU average of 44.7.
5What proportion of Italy's population had not used the internet in the previous three months?
Nearly 10% of Italy's population had not used the internet in the previous three months, according to Eurostat.