Progress in AI and GenAI adoption in Ireland
For the third consecutive survey, the percentage of respondents deploying AI has increased, now reaching 98%. This high adoption rate demonstrates the widespread integration of these technologies across various sizes and types of organisations in Ireland.
AI and GenAI adoption matures
Irish organisations are maturing in their adoption of AI solutions. While 98% of respondents are on their AI journey, only 6% have deployed these technologies at scale, a figure unchanged from previous surveys. This indicates that many organisations are still in the pilot phase. However, there is progress: 23% of organisations have deployed AI in specific areas, up from 19% six months ago. Notably, those testing specific solutions have increased from 27% in June 2024 to 44% today. The survey, covering various organisation sizes and sectors, shows a significant rise in AI adoption. In November 2023, 39% had no plans to use AI; now, this figure is just 2%.
Irish businesses realising value from AI initiatives
Irish organisations are beginning to realise value from their AI initiatives, even though adoption is still in its early stages. The main reported impacts are operational efficiencies (40%) and increased productivity (30%). When asked about the expected impact of GenAI, 81% of Irish business leaders anticipate a productivity increase of over 5%, 68% believe GenAI will enhance product and service quality within the next 12 months, and 43% expect a profitability boost of more than 5%.
To achieve these impacts, 73% of business leaders believe that employees will need to develop new skills. While GenAI can significantly impact organisations, investment in people is crucial to realise its full potential.
Maturing governance of AI
Successfully deploying AI solutions requires robust governance structures. These structures oversee the use and management of these technologies.
21% of respondents have implemented AI governance, a significant increase from 7% in June 2024. However, 79% of organisations still lack governance, with 15% having no plans to implement it. This is striking, given that only 2% of respondents have no plans to use GenAI in the next 12 months.
Governance is crucial for managing GenAI risks, including cybersecurity, misinformation, legal liabilities, and reputational risk and bias. Our survey shows a slight decrease in the percentage of respondents identifying these risks, suggesting increased comfort with risk management when appropriate governance is in place.
EU AI Act garners continued support from Irish business leaders
Support for the EU AI Act remains strong among Irish business leaders with 86% in favour, consistent with 84% in June 2024. Only 4% oppose the new legislation. Notably, 10% of respondents are unsure or unfamiliar with the Act’s requirements. This figure is expected to decline as the legislation becomes more established following its adoption in August 2024.
Key actions businesses can take today
- 1. Focus on realising value
- 2. Human-led, tech-powered
- 3. Realising benefits through governance
1. Focus on realising value
Operational efficiencies, productivity and employee efficiency are the current standout use cases for GenAI. This rapidly developing technology has the potential to deliver significant value for Irish organisations, which we are just beginning to see.
2. Human-led, tech-powered
New capabilities mean new ways of working. GenAI is more of a change process than an IT implementation. Employees must be upskilled for these technologies to deliver value.
3. Realising benefits through governance
Good governance for AI systems is now a legal requirement through the EU AI Act. Organisations must ensure responsible, ethical and secure AI use to realise its value and measure the benefits effectively.
Partner with us to build trust and drive impact
At PwC, we believe the best GenAI systems are built on trust — trust in your data, technology, employees’ skills, and governance of AI. By combining our deep business understanding with our expertise in AI implementation and change management, we can help you build trust and achieve real business impact. Contact us today.
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