Italian firms lag on AI Act training, less than 20% compliant

The European Union’s AI Act, the world’s first law regulating artificial intelligence, takes effect on 2 August 2024, with a mandatory employee‑training requirement already in force since 2 February 2025. An analysis by the Italian startup AIDAPT finds that only about 20 % of Italian companies have begun any AI‑literacy programmes, while 65 % have issued no guidance to staff and 27 % of employees use unauthorised AI tools – a phenomenon labeled “shadow AI”.

Non‑compliance can trigger fines of up to €35 million or 7 % of a company’s global annual turnover for the most serious breaches, with lower thresholds for SMEs and startups. The report outlines five steps for firms to meet the new obligations, including inventorying AI tools, moving personal accounts to corporate licences, delivering documented training, drafting internal usage rules, and verifying data destination and model‑training practices.