Unioncamere warns AI poses exclusion risk to Italian SMEs in global markets

At the ‘Obiettivo Export’ conference in Rome, Giuseppe Tripoli, Secretary General of Unioncamere, warned that Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face the risk of being excluded from international markets due to the rise of artificial intelligence. He noted that many buyers now use algorithms rather than human selection, potentially sidelining the 99% of Italian businesses that are SMEs. To counter this, Chambers of Commerce are providing digital support and personalized guidance to help local companies navigate international trade.

In related economic developments, Legacoop President Simone Gamberini announced the ‘Patto per l’Italia’ (Pact for Italy) at the upcoming Cooperative Biennial in Milan. The manifesto aims to address social and economic vulnerabilities, including healthcare, housing, and the impact of AI and data governance on the cooperative model.

Additionally, trade relations are expanding in other sectors. Italian-Libyan commercial exchanges are growing, with increased participation of Italian firms in Tripoli trade fairs. Meanwhile, trade between Italy and Malaysia has surpassed 3 billion euros, driven by energy, electronics, and oil and gas sectors.