With the approval of Law No. 132 of 2025, Italy becomes the first country to fully align with the AI Act, the EU’s landmark regulation setting common rules for the use of artificial intelligence. The new national law provides businesses with a clear regulatory framework designed to balance innovation and safety. It marks a major regulatory milestone for the responsible management of AI in Italy, positioning the country as a reference point within the European regulatory landscape.
The national law on the AI Act
The AI Act is the first European regulation designed to govern artificial intelligence in a comprehensive and structured way. Its aim is to create a safe, transparent and trustworthy environment in which advanced technologies can be developed and used while respecting fundamental rights, privacy and the protection of citizens. Following a complex legislative process, the Italian Parliament gave its final approval to Law No. 132, confirming the country’s commitment to establishing a coherent legal framework for artificial intelligence.
Published in the Official Gazette No. 223 of 25 September 2025 and entering into force on 10 October 2025, the law places Italy as the first EU Member State to adopt a national regulatory framework fully consistent with the AI Act. The measure anticipates some of the EU’s timelines and provides companies and operators with a clear and uniform set of rules for the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence systems.
The legislation fully transposes the European regulation without introducing additional constraints beyond EU standards. It defines roles, responsibilities and operational tools for public administrations, companies and startups, clarifying requirements related to control, transparency and human oversight of AI systems. This alignment strengthens legal certainty and helps create a more favourable environment for investment and innovation, supporting technological evolution through a stable and coordinated national governance framework.
The law in detail: scope and practical impacts
Law No. 132 of 2025 translates the principles of the AI Act into rules tailored to the Italian context. From its opening provisions, the text sets out a clear approach, aiming to “promote the correct, transparent and responsible use of artificial intelligence, in an anthropocentric dimension,” while considering potential economic and social impacts and effects on fundamental rights.
The legislation focuses on high-risk AI systems, especially those used in sectors such as healthcare, employment, justice and public administration. In these areas, obligations related to transparency, system traceability and human oversight are reinforced, ensuring a more reliable use of AI technologies. The law also reiterates that its provisions must be applied in full consistency with the European regulation, without adding requirements beyond those established by the AI Act.
Several provisions are especially relevant for industrial and manufacturing environments. The law clarifies that, even when AI systems are embedded in decision-making or automation processes, responsibility always remains with the operators and organisations that deploy them. The principle of human oversight is further strengthened, particularly where AI affects safety, product quality or operational continuity.
For manufacturing and technology companies, this means ensuring system traceability, adequate technical documentation and controls throughout the entire lifecycle of AI solutions, from design to deployment in production. This approach makes the adoption of artificial intelligence in industrial settings more reliable, reduces operational risks and supports a more conscious and responsible use of advanced technologies.