On September 23, 2025, Law No. 132 was enacted, introducing provisions and delegations to the Government regarding artificial intelligence (AI). It represents Italy’s first comprehensive legal framework on AI, directly aligned with the European Regulation on AI (EU 2024/1689), known as the EU AI Act.
Here are the five main innovations.
1. No New Obligations Beyond the AI Act
A key point is already made clear in Article 3, paragraph 5:
This law does not create new obligations beyond those established by Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 for artificial intelligence systems and general-purpose artificial intelligence models.
In other words, Italy does not introduce additional legal constraints but rather transposes and applies the European AI Act. This means that companies, public bodies, and developers will need to comply with rules already defined at the EU level, avoiding regulatory fragmentation. It’s a choice aimed at ensuring European consistency, reducing duplication, and fostering legal certainty.
2. High-Quality Data for Economic Growth
Article 5 establishes that the State promotes the use of AI as a driver of competitiveness, with a particularly significant point:
The State and other public authorities [...] facilitate the availability and access to high-quality data for companies developing or using artificial intelligence systems and for the scientific and innovation communities.
This is a crucial aspect, since access to reliable datasets is one of the main barriers to the development of effective AI solutions. In this way, Italy aims to support SMEs and innovative startups, strengthening both national and European technological sovereignty.
It is worth noting that Italy has been active in the open data movement for several years, through initiatives such as dati.gov.it, and maintains a strong presence on GitHub.
3. Healthcare, Sports, and Synthetic Data: An Innovation Laboratory
The law devotes an entire Title II to the use of AI in key sectors, with major developments in healthcare.
Specifically, it opens the door to the use of AI within the National Health System—both to improve its overall functioning and to enable the actual use of AI tools in medical contexts.
Article 7 confirms that individuals have the right to be informed about the use of AI technologies and that the final decision regarding diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and therapy selection remains with medical professionals.
These are not the only innovations, however: Article 8 explicitly authorizes the use of anonymized and even synthetic data, a groundbreaking measure on a global scale, which paves the way for new forms of research without direct privacy risks. Such research will be supported through the creation of an “Artificial Intelligence Platform” managed by AGENAS, designed to assist doctors, healthcare workers, and citizens in accessing medical services.
Additionally, Article 22 encourages the use of AI in sports and for improving citizens’ psychophysical well-being.
Together, these provisions reflect an approach that combines scientific innovation, rights protection, and the promotion of strategic sectors for collective well-being.
4. Professions and Justice: AI as a Support Tool Only
AI also enters the world of intellectual professions and justice, but with clear boundaries:
Art. 13: AI systems may be used by professionals, but only as a support tool to their primary activity, which remains under human competence.
Art. 15: in the judiciary, every decision concerning legal interpretation, evidence, and rulings remains strictly under the judge’s authority. AI may help streamline bureaucracy, organize services, and simplify workflows.
This approach establishes a guiding principle: AI can accelerate and improve efficiency but cannot replace human judgment in sensitive fields such as justice and regulated professions. This is particularly important given the numerous challenges AI use in judicial processes can raise.
5. One Billion Euros for Startups and Innovation
Article 23 sets forth an investment plan of up to €1 billion, in the form of equity and quasi-equity, targeting:
Innovative SMEs in startup or scale-up phases;
Companies operating in AI, cybersecurity, and enabling technologies (quantum computing, advanced telecommunications, 5G, Web3, etc.).
This measure aims to strengthen Italy’s deep tech startup ecosystem, fostering the growth of “national tech champions” and boosting the country’s competitiveness.
Law 132/2025 does not introduce additional constraints beyond the AI Act but defines how Italy intends to apply and harness artificial intelligence. Its guidelines reflect a balanced approach: innovation and business support, protection of fundamental rights, and targeted investments to build a competitive ecosystem.
In particular, the provisions on synthetic data, the responsible use of AI in healthcare and justice, and the substantial investment plan are strong indicators of a political will to make AI not just a technology, but a strategic driver of national development.
