Backed by CDP Venture Capital, a unit of state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), the fund could raise a further 3 billion euros from the private sector, the company's chief executive Agostino Scornajenchi said.

Meloni and Scornajenchi were speaking at a conference on AI in Rome.

Italy wants to use its presidency of the Group of Seven major democracies this year to focus on the impact of AI on jobs and inequality, while also laying down safeguards for the development of the technology.

"We are convinced that there can and must be an Italian way to artificial intelligence," Meloni said, adding the government is working on a bill to regulate the sector in Italy.

($1 = 0.9147 euros)

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Ros Russell)