Agent-based AI aims to take a quantum leap forward by being integrated into business processes
The focus is shifting from content creation to process execution. Interest amongst businesses is growing, but adoption in Italia remains limited
A new chapter. Following the era of generative AI – capable of producing text, images and code on demand – we are now entering the era of agent-based AI: systems designed not merely to respond to a command, but to interpret an objective, plan a sequence of activities and carry them out autonomously whilst interacting with software, documents and databases. This is a shift that could profoundly alter the way businesses are organised, as it shifts the focus from support to the ability to execute tasks.
The market, however, is still in its early stages. “It is not yet a fully established phenomenon: this is a rapidly evolving and experimental field,” observes Alberto Beretta, a partner at Bip. “There are numerous announcements and projects underway, and a sharp rise in interest and adoption, but truly established use cases are still limited.”
The figures also paint a picture of a technology that is growing rapidly, albeit from a modest starting point. According to Istat, 16.4 per cent of businesses with at least ten employees use artificial intelligence technologies, a figure that has doubled from 8.2 per cent in 2024 and more than tripled from 5 per cent in 2023. The European average – according to Eurostat data – stands at around 20 per cent, whilst countries such as Denmark, Finland and Sweden are at significantly higher levels.
The gap is particularly evident when looking at company size. In large Italian firms (again, according to Istat data), adoption stands at 53.1 per cent, whilst among SMEs it stands at just 15.7 per cent. It is precisely here, according to Beretta, that the greatest potential for transformation lies. ‘Italia is not yet at maturity, but is gaining momentum. Agent-based AI has the potential to change the operational paradigm, particularly for SMEs.’ The reason for this is also linked to the structure of the national manufacturing sector. “Many companies are still not very digitally organised, and this makes AI a potential catalyst for transformation.” The expected benefits relate to process efficiency, decision support, cost reduction and the automation of more complex tasks.
For large companies, however, the role of agent-based AI takes on a different dimension. “AI is seen as a tool to improve management’s work, support strategic decisions and guide the formulation of corporate strategies,” explains Beretta. “It does not replace management, but enhances it through data collection, analysis and decision support.”
