The Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in the World of Work is born.

Rome, December 15, 2025 – With the signing of the ministerial decree required by Law No. 132 of 2025, which implements the European AI Act, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies has officially established the Observatory on Artificial Intelligence in the World of Work. This is the first Italian public-social steering committee dedicated to monitoring and managing the impacts of the adoption of artificial intelligence systems on employment, skills, rights, and working conditions. The initiative represents the national response to the AI ​​Act in the workplace and translates into operational tools the principles affirmed by the Cagliari G7 Labor Ministers and reiterated by the Kananaskis G7, placing public, participatory, and responsible governance of technological transformation at the center.

A control room to govern change

The Observatory was established as a stable forum for discussion and guidance, designed to accompany technological innovation without being subject to it. Its mission is to support public decisions during a period of profound change in the labor market, in which artificial intelligence is increasingly impacting production processes, corporate organization, and performance evaluation methods. The organization aims to prevent the adoption of algorithms from occurring in a fragmented manner or without public oversight, instead promoting a coordinated approach aimed at protecting the dignity of labor.

The words of Minister Calderone

During the presentation in Rome, the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Marina Calderone, emphasized the philosophy behind the Observatory. "We chose to build the Observatory as a control room, an open and stable forum for discussion where institutions, social partners, and experts work together to govern change and support public decisions," she stated. "We don't want algorithms to decide people's fates. Workplace decisions must remain human, accountable, and verifiable." This message reiterates the centrality of the individual and the need to maintain human control over automated decision-making processes.

The structure of the Observatory and its tasks

Chaired by the Minister, the Observatory brings together institutions, independent authorities, social partners, and experts and is divided into a Steering Committee, an Ethics Commission, a Social Partners Consultation Committee, and four thematic technical-scientific committees. This structure reflects the desire to integrate diverse expertise and complementary perspectives. Its main functions include defining the national strategy on artificial intelligence applied to the workplace, monitoring its impact on productivity, employment, and working conditions, identifying the sectors and professions most exposed to the adoption of AI systems, and continuously updating the national guidelines.

A public tool to protect rights and quality of work

The Observatory will serve as a stable public policy tool, aiming to support technological innovation while safeguarding rights, dignity, and the quality of work. From this perspective, the structure will also support training and employment policies, helping to anticipate skills needs and reduce the risk of new inequalities generated by automation. Artificial intelligence is thus placed within a framework of shared responsibility, in which technological progress and social cohesion must advance together.

Operational start-up and first steps

The Observatory is expected to become operational in early 2026, when all its members will be appointed and the first strategic and analytical documents will be published. These materials will form the basis for guiding public decisions and providing concrete guidance to institutions, businesses, and social partners on the responsible adoption of AI in the workplace.

The Ethics Commission and the role of Paolo Benanti

During the public presentation, the Guidelines on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace and the name of the President of the Ethics Commission were also announced. The body will be led by Father Paolo Benanti, professor at Luiss Guido Carli University and President of the Commission on Artificial Intelligence for Information at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The Commission will be responsible for providing general ethical guidance, ensuring that the use of algorithms respects the fundamental values ​​of the individual and work.

Ethics and innovation, a compass for the future

"Ethics should not be perceived as a brake on innovation, but as the compass needed to guide digital transformation toward the common good," stated Father Benanti. "Within the Observatory, our task will be to ensure that the efficiency of algorithms never tramples on the dignity of the individual: artificial intelligence must remain a tool to enhance human labor, not to dehumanize it." This principle summarizes the vision underlying the Observatory and marks a key shift in the relationship between technology, labor, and rights in Italy's near future.

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