Expleo research finds growing confidence in AI’s business potential, with Irish executives now the most enthusiastic in Europe.
Irish business leaders are becoming increasingly optimistic about the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence, according to new research from Expleo, with more than seven in 10 expressing excitement about the technology’s potential.
The latest edition of Expleo’s AI Pulse sentiment tracker found that 72% of Irish business leaders are excited about the opportunities AI can bring to their organisations, up from 60% in July. The findings mark a significant shift in sentiment and position Ireland as the most enthusiastic market among those surveyed across Ireland, the UK, Germany and France.
“Businesses must bring their leadership teams with them on their AI journeys; they are the ones who will become their greatest AI advocates”
The monthly survey, conducted by Opinium on behalf of Expleo, tracks attitudes toward AI among business leaders across Europe. In July, Irish respondents emerged as the most pessimistic across all measures. August’s results, however, show a noticeably more positive outlook.
KEY NUMBERS: Irish Business Leaders and AI
• 72% excited by AI opportunities, up from 60% in July
• 53% fear AI’s impact on their own jobs
• 53% concerned about AI transforming their organisations
• 63% worried about AI-related cybersecurity risks
• 70% trust their organisation to use AI ethically
• Ethical AI confidence up from 62% in July
• 61% view AI primarily as a business benefit
• 38% lose confidence in AI-generated marketing content
• One in five see AI as a business risk
Editorial takeaway: Irish executives are increasingly convinced of AI’s business value, but concerns around jobs, organisational change, cybersecurity and trust remain firmly on the boardroom agenda.
AI seen as a business benefit
The study also found that 61% of Irish business leaders now view AI primarily as a business benefit, compared with 54% the previous month. Just one in five see AI as a risk to business.
Businesses are also expressing growing confidence in their ability to implement AI responsibly. Seven in 10 respondents said they trust their organisation to use AI both successfully and ethically, an increase from 62% in July.
Alongside this optimism, concerns remain about the practical implications of AI adoption. More than half of Irish business leaders, 53%, said they worry about the impact AI could have on their own jobs. The same proportion said they are concerned about how AI is transforming their organisations, making Irish respondents the most likely among the countries surveyed to express such concerns.
Cybersecurity also remains a significant issue. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of business leaders said they are concerned about the cybersecurity risks associated with AI.
The research also points to growing scrutiny of AI-generated content. Following the introduction of new transparency provisions under the EU AI Act, companies are required to disclose when certain content has been created using AI. Expleo’s findings suggest trust may be as important as compliance, with 38% of Irish business leaders saying they would lose confidence in a company whose marketing or advertising materials appeared to have been produced by AI.
“August’s data shows why it is so important to measure AI sentiment month-on-month. AI adoption is a rapidly changing space, leaving the attitudes of Irish business leaders evolving just as quickly,” said Phil Codd, managing director for Ireland at Expleo.
“What stands out in this latest AI Pulse data is the gap between enthusiasm for AI and comfort with what it means in practice. Leaders believe that AI will be good for their businesses, but many are still asking what that transformation will mean for them personally, for their people and for the security of their organisations.
“Businesses must bring their leadership teams with them on their AI journeys; they are the ones who will become their greatest AI advocates. If company leadership is having doubts, their teams almost certainly are too.”
Expleo’s AI Pulse surveys 200 business leaders in each of Ireland, the UK, Germany and France every month, tracking levels of confidence, trust, excitement and concern around AI adoption in the workplace.
👉 No tech background needed to bring your business into the AI age! Secure your Google AI Professional Certificate to complete the certification at no cost. Apply now and get started!
-
Bank of Ireland is welcoming new customers every day – funding investments, working capital and expansions across multiple sectors. To learn more, click here
-
For support in challenging times, click here
-
Listen to the ThinkBusiness Podcast for business insights and inspiration. All episodes are here. You can also listen to the Podcast on:
-
Spotify
-
SoundCloud
-
Apple
