There is a moment in Giorgia Meloni’s reflection on artificial intelligence when the discussion stops being technological and becomes deeply human. It is when she notes that, for the first time in the history of progress, machines are no longer replacing human physical labor, but human intellect, the very trait that has always made people irreplaceable.
This is the starting point of the Prime Minister’s message to the conference “AI and Work: Governing Transformation, Multiplying Opportunities.” It is not a speech that celebrates innovation, but one that weighs its consequences. If this transformation is not governed, Meloni warns, the risk is tangible: workers rendered obsolete, a shrinking middle class, and a fractured social balance.
The government’s position is clear. Artificial intelligence can unleash its positive potential only if it operates within a framework of ethical rules that place the individual at the center, rights, needs, and the dignity of work. This, Meloni says, is the compass guiding the executive’s action, both domestically and abroad.
Italy, she notes, is among the first countries to have adopted a national law on artificial intelligence. That legislation includes the creation of an Observatory on AI adoption in the world of work, housed within the Ministry of Labor, with responsibilities for monitoring, analysis, and policy guidance. It is one piece of a broader strategy pursued internationally as well, strengthened during Italy’s presidency of the G7, when a dedicated Action Plan on AI and labor was launched.
The vision, however, extends beyond institutions. The government is working along three main axes. The first is skills. In an era in which - according to the World Bank -skills are the decisive factor, the goal is to close the gap between what businesses need and what the labor market supplies. That means lifelong learning, reskilling and upskilling for young people and adults alike, in partnership with leading companies in the sector.
The second axis concerns job quality. Here, AI is not framed as a threat, but as an opportunity: greater workplace safety, more efficient organization, and time freed from repetitive, low-value tasks.
The third axis is regulation. Transparency of algorithms, protection of personal data, non-discrimination, and full respect for fundamental rights. Italy, Meloni emphasizes, has already chosen to position itself at the forefront, defending human creativity and copyright while setting clear boundaries against abuse.
Alongside all this lies a broader ambition: attracting investment, strengthening digital infrastructure, supporting research and experimentation, and building an innovation ecosystem capable of generating value and jobs. Because, the Prime Minister concludes, a distinctly Italian path to artificial intelligence can - and must - exist.