Irish business leaders show rising engagement with AI, strong trust in governance and ethics alongside growing awareness of organisational impact.
Irish business leaders are showing their strongest levels of confidence in artificial intelligence to date, even as they give greater attention to the scale of change it is bringing to their organisations and roles.
New data from Expleo’s AI Pulse sentiment tracker for May places Ireland’s overall confidence score at 66 out of 100, the highest recorded since the research programme began in February.
“The fact that concern is rising alongside trust and optimism suggests that leaders are engaging seriously with AI rather than shying away from it”
The findings point to a business community that is actively embracing AI, investing in governance and developing a deeper understanding of its implications.
Confidence in AI is growing
Almost half of leaders, 48%, say they are thinking carefully about how AI is transforming their organisations. This marks the highest level of engagement recorded by the survey and reflects the growing prominence of AI in strategic decision-making across Irish enterprises.
Trust in how organisations are deploying AI is also strengthening. Some 73% of Irish business leaders say they trust their organisation to use AI ethically, bringing Ireland into line with France and ahead of the UK on this measure. The same study shows that 69% of respondents are confident their organisation could demonstrate accountable governance in the event of an AI-related incident.
Perceptions of AI’s value continue to move in a positive direction. Nearly two-thirds, 64%, now view AI as more of a benefit than a risk. This represents a 10 percentage point increase since February, signalling a steady shift towards recognising the technology’s capacity to drive productivity, innovation and growth.
At the same time, leaders are taking a more nuanced view of the implications for their workforce and operational resilience. Some 41% of respondents say they are concerned about how AI could affect their job, an increase of 5 percentage points on the previous month. Cybersecurity also remains a key focus, with 59% expressing concern about the risks AI may pose to their organisations.
Structured adoption
Phil Codd, managing director for Ireland at Expleo, said the concurrent rise in confidence and concern reflects a maturing approach to AI adoption among Irish businesses.
“The fact that concern is rising alongside trust and optimism suggests that leaders are engaging seriously with AI rather than shying away from it,” he said. “At Expleo, what we’re seeing on the ground reflects this: excitement, but also a real desire for expertise, consultancy and guidance on governance and successful implementation.”
The findings indicate that Irish organisations are moving beyond early-stage experimentation and into a phase of structured adoption. Leaders are placing increased emphasis on building frameworks that ensure accountability, transparency and ethical use, particularly as AI systems become more embedded in core business functions.
Expleo’s data also highlights the importance of preparedness in managing both opportunity and risk. Confidence in governance capabilities suggests organisations are investing in the policies, processes and oversight required to respond effectively to any AI-related issues. This aligns with a broader trend among European businesses to formalise AI controls as usage scales.
For many companies, this period of adjustment is shaping new priorities. There is a growing requirement for specialist skills, external advisory support and internal training programmes that equip employees to work alongside AI tools. The rise in job-related concerns underscores the need for clear communication and reskilling strategies as roles evolve.
Codd said the current sentiment among Irish leaders reflects a balanced and constructive outlook on AI.
“Leaders are taking a measured approach. They recognise the opportunities AI presents and are equally focused on understanding its impact and putting the right structures in place to manage it effectively,” he said.
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