AI adoption unlocks 17 workdays of productivity for Irish office workers, a new survey finds. But questions remain about whether it provides value for money for organisations.
Irish office workers are saving nearly three hours a week through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, equating to an average of 17 workdays per year, according to new research published by Auxilion, the IT managed services provider.
The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Auxilion and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, polled 1,000 office workers across Ireland and highlights both the productivity gains and ethical concerns surrounding AI in the workplace.
“The reality is that for most organisations, widespread adoption of generative AI has yet to produce significant improvements in overall performance or the bottom line”
The majority of respondents said they are using the time saved to focus on higher priority tasks (44%), increase productivity (42%), and pursue training or upskilling opportunities (29%). However, the findings also reveal a growing dependency on AI, with 27% of workers stating they would not be able to complete their work effectively without it.
AI’s role in the workplace is becoming increasingly central, with 68% of users reporting that it makes their job easier. A significant minority (22%) said they would consider changing jobs if their employer banned the use of AI tools.
Ethical concerns about AI
Eleanor Dempsey, Director of Strategy, Innovation and Transformation, Auxilion
spite the benefits, the survey uncovered notable ethical concerns. Nearly one-third (31%) of respondents have raised issues about the ethical use of technology within their organisation, and 27% believe their own use of AI could be considered unethical.
The most commonly cited questionable practices include using AI to complete tasks without informing a supervisor (45%) and inputting sensitive company or customer data into AI tools (26%).
The lack of formal guidance may be contributing to these behaviours. Forty-two percent of office workers said they have not received any training or instruction from their employer on how to use AI tools safely and effectively.
Concerns about job security also persist. Nearly half (48%) of respondents worry that AI could eventually replace their role or aspects of it, with younger workers aged 18 to 24 expressing the highest level of concern (54%).
“There is no denying that AI tools can deliver impressive productivity gains for individuals,” said Eleanor Dempsey, director of Strategy, Innovation and Transformation at Auxilion.
“However, the reality is that for most organisations, widespread adoption of generative AI has yet to produce significant improvements in overall performance or the bottom line.
“All too often, AI is treated as a quick fix rather than woven into the operational fabric of the business. Without robust governance, risk management, and a clear focus on business outcomes, companies risk spending more time addressing issues in AI rather than realising the benefits. The real opportunity lies in building enterprise-grade solutions that are secure, compliant, and truly transformative for the organisation as a whole.”
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