The Bank for International Settlements published a working paper analysing awareness, adoption, intensity of use and intended use of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) among Italian households, drawing on a dedicated 2024 module in the Italian Survey of Consumer Expectations. The paper finds broad awareness but uneven take-up across demographic groups, and reports a small positive association between gen AI use and earnings for employed respondents. Using a nationally representative sample of Italians aged 18–75, the paper estimates that as of April 2024, 75.6% were aware of gen AI, 36.7% had used it in the previous 12 months and 20.1% reported monthly usage. Adoption and intensity are higher among men, younger respondents (especially students) and those with higher educational attainment, while income is only modestly associated with awareness and use and city size has a small and statistically weak relationship. Over the next 12 months, expected use is concentrated in education or training and leisure, with fewer respondents anticipating using gen AI for medical or financial advice. In a Mincer-type earnings regression on a subsample of 2,700 employed respondents aged 18–64, gen AI use is associated with a 1.8–2.2% increase in earnings across specifications with sector and occupation controls; the paper also reports larger and more precisely estimated returns for males and somewhat larger returns in higher-exposure sectors and occupations.

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