In 2021, worldwide spending on Artificial Intelligence systems amounted to 85 billion dollars, a figure that according to the International Data Corporation is destined to rise rapidly, exceeding 2025 billion in 200. These are the numbers provided by the Minister for Technological Innovation, Vittorio Colao, to the joint Transport and Productive Activities commissions of the Chamber in the context of the examination of the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing harmonized rules on artificial intelligence.
Colao: push on Artificial Intelligence
In this context, Italy still has a long way to go. “The estimate for the Italian AI market is just 380 million euros, a starting figure on which we must reflect”, said the minister, adding that “Europe and Italy must keep pace with a very rapid development“.
“Artificial intelligence is a state-of-the-art application engine which simplify daily life, which allow the adoption of better, faster, simpler and therefore perhaps even more effective public decisions, which accelerate growth and industrial development and above all the better allocation of private and public resources – explained Colao –. Our goal as a government is to maximize and achieve all of these goals and strengthen the Italian sector."
The minister then underlined that we are facing a crucial moment "in which Europe can adopt a set of modern and useful legislation to support economic development and we as Italians can transform them into executive programs that support the economy".
Speaking of the proposed regulation on AI, the minister summarized Italy's position. According to our Government “the purposes are quite clear, the legislative intentions are worthy and shareable I would say, as always, that the proposal could be improved in some respects”. "In particular, some points need immediate improvement", starting with the definitions, for which "we requested greater precision to avoid fragmented and unwanted applications", concluded Colao.
Colao on the Pnrr: "We need to simplify and invest"
After the hearing in the Chamber, the minister appeared today before the Constitutional Affairs, Budget, Public Works and EU Policies commissions of the Senate to talk about the progress made in the implementation of the Pnrr.
According to Colao, citizens "appreciate digital" provided it is "easy and useful to use". “We are still behind and we must continue. Citizens expect us to simplify procedures more and eliminate more of the inefficiencies of processes built decades ago and to invest more in the human skills of the public administration and the private sector", he added, underlining that "We can digitize with the Pnrr but if the processes are complicated we digitize a complication".
Another important aspect highlighted during the hearing concerns investments: "The other important thing is that the productive part of the country invests in skills and innovation," said the Minister for Technological Innovation. “Public-private collective investment and more courageous choices are the ingredients that will allow us to implement an ambitious plan”, concluded the minister.
Digital identity and Spid for minors
The data tells us “that we have undertaken the right path on technological innovation”. The numbers prove it: “today we have reached an important milestone on digital identity because we have 43% of the Italian population who have a digital identity, a performance that connects us to the three best in Europe. The active users of the digital platforms that provide public services are constantly increasing: pagoPa exceeds 9 million per month, 6 million per month on the Io App. Transactions on PAgoPa alone are more than 4 billion a month,” Colao explained.
“We have an important financial endowment, the total endowment that has been entrusted to us is just under 20 billion including space, and just over 15 excluding space. We have already committed about half of this amount to date: therefore approx 9,8 billion are committed“, he pointed out.
“Soon we will also activate the Spid for minors which is very important for the digitization of schools", anticipated the Minister also clarifying that "Nobody thinks of preventing someone who is not digital from not receiving a notification in the traditional way", concluded Colao.
