The G7 countries have agreed to develop common rules for the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso said on Thursday.

"At the first G7 session, we fully agreed on the idea of increasingly promoting and aligning rules that boost the uniform development of AI, quantum technology and other emerging technologies," Urso told reporters after the first-day meeting of the G7 industry ministers in the Italian city of Verona.

The ministers also agreed to "pay more attention to the inclusion of small and medium-sized businesses ... as well as to the commitments that need to be made regarding mass literacy in emerging technologies and professional training," Usro also said.

The second-day session will be held on Friday in the city of Trento in northern Italy with the focus on discussions of strengthening digital infrastructure and exchanging best practices to make it effective and user-friendly, the minister added.

Italy has declared AI a priority for its G7 presidency this year. Government officials said they intend to focus on the impact of AI on jobs and inequality, and establish safeguards for technology development.

(With UNI Inputs)