Are Irish companies ready for AI-driven transformation?

Irish companies recognise AI’s transformative potential but are not yet fully ready to leverage it and become augmented organisations

The survey, conducted in May 2024, involved 700 executives from private and public sectors across 14 countries, including 170 from the UK and Ireland. The respondents represented a diverse range of industries and revenue brackets, ensuring a comprehensive overview.​ In the UK and Ireland, only 38% of respondents are directly involved in AI-related decision-making. However, a significant portion of the remaining respondents are well-informed about AI initiatives within their areas.

This indicates a broad awareness of AI’s potential, even if direct involvement is limited.​ 82% of UK and Ireland respondents believe that establishing an effective AI cross-functional taskforce is crucial for becoming an augmented organisation. This sentiment is slightly higher than the 75% observed in other countries, highlighting a strong recognition of the need for collaborative AI governance.​ There is a notable scepticism towards AI in the UK and Ireland, with 43% of respondents adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach. This cautious stance is slightly lower than the 48% observed in other countries.

The public sector, in particular, shows the highest level of scepticism and the lowest level of enthusiasm towards AI.​ Data readiness is a critical factor for AI adoption. In the UK and Ireland, only 1% of respondents are unsure about their data readiness, while 42% consider themselves mostly ready and 24% fully ready. This suggests a relatively high level of preparedness compared to other countries.​ Governance remains a significant area of focus, with 46% of UK and Ireland respondents still contemplating the best approach to AI governance. This is comparable to the 44% observed in other countries, indicating a common challenge in establishing effective AI governance frameworks.

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