Irish CEOs are investing in AI, but most have not yet translated pilots into measurable financial returns. Only 17% report AI‑driven revenue gains in the past 12 months and 23% report lower costs, while the majority report neither. This underscores the execution gap between experimentation and enterprise value.
The global pattern is similar, and the lesson is clear. Companies that realise both higher revenues and lower costs tend to deploy AI more extensively and anchor it to strategy. They build the right foundations: trustworthy data, integration‑ready tech, Responsible AI governance, and operating models that embed AI into core workflows.
Ireland’s adoption mix points to where foundations need to mature. Today, Irish CEOs say AI is applied to a large/very large extent in demand generation (13%), support services (11%), products/services/experiences (9%), direction‑setting (4%), and demand fulfilment (2%)—all below global levels. Closing that gap can unlock outcomes that show up in P&L, not just in productivity metrics.
What to focus on now
- Pick a few value‑creating use cases and scale them. Tie AI to revenue, margin or risk outcomes; redesign end‑to‑end workflows rather than isolated tasks.
- Harden the data and tech stack. Ensure accessible, reliable data; modern integration patterns; and performance/guardrails that support enterprise adoption.
- Embed Responsible AI. Formalise risk processes so teams can move faster with trust (a known driver of adoption and returns).
- Make adoption a leadership priority. Ireland’s usage levels suggest room to widen access and capability.
Irish CEOs are also venturing across sector boundaries. Forty-seven per cent say their companies have begun to compete in new sectors over the past five years (vs 42% globally). Pairing those moves with enterprise‑grade AI foundations is likely to separate the leaders from the pack in 2026 and beyond.
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