L’generative artificial intelligence, according to an IDC study developed together with Microsoft on a sample of 100 Italian companies, offers an ROI of 3.14 dollars for every dollar invested. Italian companies see the first signs of growth 14 months after the start of AI integration. 72% have successfully completed the implementation of AI solutions, while 53% indicate a period of 3-6 months for effective integration into business processes.
And if it is true that generative AI is able to amplify the work of people and companies and free our time from routine activities, offering more space for human ingenuity and creativity, the need to guide businesses is equally clear and people so that they can derive the greatest benefit from this new technology, understand its transformative power and opportunities, maintaining high attention to ethical aspects and responsible development.
In this direction, through the program AI L.A.B. (Learn – Adopt – Benefit) and the large ecosystem of partners, Microsoft Italy already has reached 111 companies and initiated over 200 projects of generative AI, providing companies with access to technology and personalized training courses to exploit its full potential. “We are faced with an unprecedented opportunity, a paradigm shift like we have never seen before and we want to help Italy grow with digital” he commented Vincenzo EspositoCEO of Microsoft Italy.
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New initiatives within the AI LAB program in the name of training and open innovation
AI LAB is the initiative launched last September by Microsoft and developed in collaboration with the partner ecosystem, with the aim of promoting the opportunities of generative artificial intelligence for public and private companies, SMEs, professionals and students and contribute to Italy’s sustainable growth through new digital innovation scenarios. Just 3 months after its launch, AI LAB is enriched with new partners and initiatives, further expanding its reach.
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Starting from January 2024, AI LAB expands thanks to the launch of Ital.IA L.A.B., a training program on generative AI developed with the contribution of Digital World Foundationwhich it aims to achieve over 8000 people including students, workers and people looking for work. The project results in the creation of 20 hubs throughout Italy but with particular concentration in Southern Italy and in the suburbs of large cities, where participants will be able to follow personalized and free training courses on the opportunities and benefits of generative AI.
At the same time, comes the announcement of AI L.A.B. for Digital Entrepreneurs, a program designed specifically for SMEs and startups that have already started innovation paths and that want to acquire a further competitive advantage thanks to new technologies and above all, to the transformative power brought by generative AI. Together with strategic partners such as Cerved, ELITE, LinkedIn and SACE and with the Poste Italiane Group as License Solution Provider and Cloud Solution Provider, Microsoft Italia provides technology and services, training and skills for sustainable growth, accompanying companies and startups through joint offers and programs in a process aimed at improvement productivity, resilience and sustainabilitypromoting a positive impact on the economy and society.
Other partners alongside companies to accelerate the implementation of generative AI
These two pillars are added to the three already existing – AI LAB for Businesses, AI LAB for Professionals and AI LAB. for students – which have currently reached a total of 200 professionals, collaborations with 5 universities and over 110 companies. There are currently over 200 innovation scenarios, especially in the Retail and Finance sector, being evaluated and developed by companies in our country also thanks to the contribution of the Microsoft partner ecosystem.
Which now sees the entry of new partners in the AI LAB for Business initiatives: 4wardPRO, Computer Gross, Esprinet, Insight, Leonardo, NTT Data, ProgeSoftware, Softjam, SoftwareOne, TD Synnex, VarGroup join Accenture, AGIC Group, Almawave, Altitudo, Avanade, Avvale, Capgemini, Engineering, EY, Hevolus, Jakala, MESA, Porini/DGS, PWC, Reply, Prometeia and Trueblue.
The AI LAB for Business program allows companies to start a path of evaluation, joint development, implementation of the best generative AI solutions and training to deepen their knowledge in the AI field, identify AI application scenarios and develop a roadmap of responsible adoption with tangible benefits in terms of growth and productivity.