Bank of Italy governor Fabio Panetta says the central bank is in talks with major artificial intelligence companies as part of efforts to address Italy’s long-running productivity challenges. Panetta made the remarks at the central bank’s annual assembly, where he also argued that AI could play a role in improving productivity. Unlike many central bankers, who typically avoid naming specific technology firms they are engaging with, Panetta directly indicated that the bank is already communicating with companies building AI systems, while not providing detailed information about which firms are involved or the scope of the discussions. The reports from The Next Web and Channel NewsAsia describe Panetta’s comments as a public acknowledgement of ongoing engagement with global AI providers. Overall, both outlets focus on the governor’s message about AI’s potential economic value and the unusual transparency about the fact that the Bank of Italy is already working with or speaking to major AI companies.