Bank of Italy initiates talks with global AI developers

Governor Fabio Panetta has opened direct lines with international artificial intelligence developers, seeking to secure Italy’s financial infrastructure before the next generation of generative models hits the market. The move signals a shift toward proactive oversight as the central bank prepares for the widespread integration of third-party AI tools.

The Bank of Italy launched these consultations with national regulators, financial institutions, and IT service providers earlier this week. Panetta emphasized that the responsibility for system security and operational continuity remains firmly with the banks, even when they rely on external technology vendors.

Technology alone cannot shield the financial sector from systemic risks. Panetta urged executive leadership to move beyond technical patches, calling instead for the implementation of robust governance and control frameworks. These measures are designed to ensure that when AI models become publicly accessible, local financial players maintain full oversight of their digital ecosystems.