Artificial Intelligence: A Strategic Lever for Business Growth
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is radically transforming the business landscape, making companies more productive and efficient. Through the strategic adoption of AI, businesses can unlock human potential by shifting the focus toward high-value activities. This leads to overall process improvement, optimized resource use, and increased return on investment. Furthermore, AI enhances business competitiveness, supporting broader economic growth.
In Italy, the introduction of AI into businesses and public administration represents a major opportunity. Advancements in AI technology are increasingly enabling the automation of repetitive or complex tasks, freeing up human resources to concentrate on creative and strategic activities, and maximizing their skillsets.
Events and Initiatives to Harness AI’s Potential
A concrete example of how companies are exploring the potential of AI is the “IBM AI Experience on Tour” roadshow, organized by IBM. The first event of the initiative, held on March 20 in Rome, featured participation from Red Hat and LUISS University. The initiative aims to explore the capabilities of AI—including developments in generative and agentic AI—through a series of events scheduled across various Italian cities in the coming months.
The Importance of Open Source AI in ROI
A key aspect of AI adoption is the use of open-source tools. These not only accelerate return on investment (ROI) but also help companies stay competitive in innovation. A recent study by Morning Consult and Lopez Research found that 85% of surveyed companies reported progress in their AI strategies, with 47% already seeing positive ROI. Among those using open-source tools, 51% reported a positive ROI, compared to 41% of companies that do not.
Growing Investments in Artificial Intelligence
Corporate willingness to invest in AI is increasing. According to the research, 62% of companies plan to increase AI investment in 2025, with 48% aiming to further explore the open-source ecosystem. AI spending will focus on specific areas such as IT operations, data quality management, and product and service innovation to maximize impact.
AI Maturity Among Businesses
AI adoption in Italian companies is showing signs of increasing maturity. Eighty-five percent of businesses reported progress in their AI projects, with 58% managing to transition from pilot phase to full production in under a year. The primary motivation behind AI investment is the drive to innovate (31%), followed by the desire to achieve ROI (28%).
Generative and Agentic AI: Tailored Solutions for Enterprises
One of the most promising innovations in the AI field is generative AI, which creates new content—such as text, images, or code—based on existing datasets. Popular models include Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), which are used for content generation and language translation.
Alongside generative AI, agentic AI is emerging—technology that makes autonomous decisions and acts without continuous human input. This form of AI is particularly valuable for automating processes, especially in manufacturing and Industry 5.0, where machines operate independently to boost efficiency and productivity.
A Culture of Digital Transformation: AI as a Growth Driver
AI adoption is not merely a technological shift; it represents a true cultural transformation that affects every level of society—from institutions to enterprises. According to Tiziana Tornaghi, General Manager Consulting at IBM Italy, generative and agentic AI are driving radical changes in business processes, but a strategic approach to integration is crucial. The key to success lies in investing in human training and in fostering an ecosystem that supports this change.
The Importance of Digital Skills
Technology alone is not enough to realize the full potential of digital transformation. Users must have the necessary skills to effectively use these tools. Unfortunately, Italy ranks among the European countries with the lowest levels of digital skills—only 45.8% of the population possesses basic digital competencies. Companies are responding to this gap with training initiatives, such as IBM’s skillsbuild.org platform, which has already trained over 200,000 students, teachers, and workers in Italy.
The Future of AI in Italy
For AI to be effectively implemented, universities must evolve into innovation hubs that integrate technological expertise with humanistic education. In this context, AI should be seen as an accelerator of human capability, not a replacement. Only with a shared vision of innovation, education, and collaboration among institutions, businesses, and individuals can Italy fully harness the benefits of this transformation.
IBM AI Solutions: Technology and Innovation Serving Business
IBM, with its portfolio of advanced AI solutions such as watsonx, has demonstrated how AI can accelerate business efficiency. These include watsonx Orchestrate, which facilitates workflow automation, and IBM Hybrid iPaaS, a platform that simplifies the integration of various business applications. These technologies—alongside tools like IBM StreamSets and quantum computing—provide powerful solutions to tackle the challenges of digital transformation.
In Summary
Artificial Intelligence is a fundamental lever for the growth and competitiveness of Italian companies. To meet the challenge of integration, businesses must adopt AI strategically, with strong investments in skills development and innovation.
