Irish businesses say they are already reaping measurable productivity gains from AI agents.
Irish businesses are preparing to increase spending on AI agents, according to a new PwC Ireland survey, which shows growing interest in the technology’s potential to reshape work and boost productivity.
The study found that 70% of Irish organisations plan to raise their AI-related budgets in the coming year, compared with 88% in the US. Despite this momentum, only 9% of Irish respondents reported broad adoption of AI agents, while 83% said they were at early stages or exploring the technology.
“Irish organisations are focusing on operational and support functions, while US companies are leveraging AI agents more aggressively across a wider range of business areas”
More than half of Irish respondents reported measurable productivity gains from AI agents, but only 38% said these gains were translating into cost savings. Amy Ball, Business Transformation Leader at PwC Ireland, said: “AI agents aren’t just the future – they’re already on the job, with the ability to deliver real results. Irish organisations are ramping up investment, but are not yet seeing the returns that are possible.”
Firms still cautious about AI
David Lee, Chief Technology Officer at PwC Ireland, said:the results highlight that Irish organisations are taking their time focusing on experimenting with AI agents, enabling them to understand and trust the technology, rather than rushing to full scale adoption.
“Irish organisations are focusing on operational and support functions, while US companies are leveraging AI agents more aggressively across a wider range of business areas, including innovation and strategic functions.”
The survey suggests that 54% of Irish business leaders believe AI agents will deliver a significant competitive advantage in the year ahead. However, only 29% expect their operating model to materially change within two years. Few organisations are using AI agents for innovation or new revenue streams, with just 16% reporting improved profitability and 4% citing new revenue generation.
PwC’s findings also point to challenges around trust and data. Only 7% of Irish respondents expressed high trust in AI agents across multiple functions, and none reported trusting them to conduct financial transactions. Data issues were cited as the top barrier to adoption by 40% of respondents, while integration with legacy systems was highlighted by 36%.
Lee concluded: “Looking ahead, the findings suggest that Irish organisations are at a pivotal moment. As early productivity gains are realised, we expect adoption to broaden beyond core operational functions, with a growing focus on innovation, new product development and strategic decision-making. Organisations should broaden their mindset from seeing AI as an efficiency driver to a reinvention enabler.”
-
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
