Symposium targets AI market power and financial-sector risks
The Bank of Italy and LUISS University are bringing together researchers in Rome to examine competition across AI supply chains. The symposium covers market power, trade and financial institutions' dependence on large technology providers.
From computing power to finance
Three scientific sessions examine competition across the AI value chain, from data and computing infrastructure to foundation models and downstream applications.
The first covers economies of scale and scope, network effects and vertical integration, including their effects on finance.
The second considers pricing, margins and surplus distribution in global supply chains dominated by firms that both supply and use AI technology.
It examines rent extraction, pressure on rivals' margins and shock transmission.
The third focuses on hyperscalers in financial services: data analytics and computing efficiencies alongside provider concentration, single points of failure and operational resilience risks, viewed through financial stability and competition policy.
Rome hosts three scientific sessions
The symposium takes place on November 4, 2026, at the Bank of Italy, Via Nazionale 91, in Rome's Emeroteca room.
Andrea Brandolini, Director General for Economics, Statistics and Research, gives opening remarks.
Joshua Gans of the University of Toronto delivers the keynote.
Stefano Siviero, Director General for Payments and Market Infrastructures, closes proceedings.
Places are limited, with attendance requests due by October 26, 2026, at digitalroundtable@bancaditalia.it.
The event forms part of AI-COMP, funded by the European Research Council under grant 101098332.
Efficiency meets provider dependence
The programme treats AI adoption as both an efficiency opportunity and a source of concentration risk.
Financial institutions' reliance on a few hyperscalers connects competition concerns with operational resilience.
The announcement sets an agenda rather than presenting research findings or policy decisions.