Italian newspaper il manifesto reported Saturday that the anticipated productivity gains from artificial intelligence have not arrived, and that the main measurable effect so far has been growing inequality. The paper framed AI-driven productivity as a "mirage" in its headline.
Coverage across several Italian outlets pointed to the same theme from different angles. According to ANSA, roughly 60 percent of jobs in the European Union are exposed to risk from AI, and the agency warned that Europe should not miss the AI train. Il Sole 24 ORE likewise reported that about 60 percent of European jobs carry AI-related exposure, placing Italy around the middle of the rankings. The Corriere della Sera described Italy as poorly prepared and cited the same 60 percent figure for the most advanced EU countries.
La Stampa reported that the International Monetary Fund sees Italy at a disadvantage on AI, with limited impact on both productivity and GDP.
Taken together, the reports suggest a gap between expectations for AI and its measurable economic results in Italy and across Europe. The sources cited do not offer a single explanation for that gap, and none of the outlets provided detailed figures beyond the job-exposure estimate and the IMF's assessment.
What to watch next: whether the IMF or European institutions publish fuller data on AI adoption and its effects on Italian productivity and employment.