Irish Employees Embrace AI, but Companies Lag Behind in Support and Policy

Irish employees thrive with AI, while employers fall behind, survey finds | BreakingNews.ie

Surveying 1,000 people in Ireland, the Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends report shows that over two thirds (67 per cent) of GenAI users say it boosts their productivity at work, but less than one in four (24 per cent) say their employer actively encourages use of the technology. The research shows that 90 per cent of Irish companies lack a GenAI policy and that while GenAI users are more likely to use the technology for personal reasons (69 per cent), the percentage using it for work tasks is up from 32 per cent in 2023 to 36 per cent. A total of 48 per cent of respondents have used GenAI, an increase from 33 per cent in 2023. Meanwhile, the percentage of those who are not aware of GenAI is down from 38 per cent in 2023 to 27 per cent. Of those using GenAI, 10 per cent are using it daily, 28 per cent are doing so weekly and 15 per cent are using it monthly. A total of 46 per cent are using it less than monthly, with 24 per cent of this cohort saying they don't know how to use it well and 18 per cent say they are dissatisfied with the answers they receive. Use of GenAI is highest among younger people at 85 per cent for those aged 18 to 24, followed by 69 per cent for the 25 to 34 age group and 56 per cent for those aged 35 to 44. Usage then drops significantly to 34 per cent for those aged 45 to 54, 22 per cent for those between 55 and 64 and 20 per cent for those aged 65 to 75. Most people use GenAI for personal reasons (69 per cent) ahead of professional or work reasons (36 per cent) and for educational purposes (38 per cent). Of the 67 per cent of users who believe GenAI makes them more productive at work, 44 per cent say they use the technology for writing and editing emails and for looking up information. A total of 42 per cent use it to generate ideas, followed by creating written content (38 per cent), summarising texts and reports (35 per cent), editing (26 per cent), analysing data (25 per cent) and generating images (20 per cent). When GenAI users were asked if their employer encouraged them to use the technology at work, just 8 per cent strongly agreed with the statement and 16 per cent agreed. The survey showed that uncertainty around GenAI and its impact on future workforces continues to be a concern with 60 per cent of users worried that it will reduce the number of jobs available in the future and 46 per cent concerned that it will replace some of their role in the workforce. While they are concerned about the potential impact of GenAI on their future, a significant proportion of users trust the technology. A total of 28 per cent of users said GenAI responses were unbiased and 34 per cent agreed that the technology "always produces accurate responses". This is despite well-documented issues with the reliability of the technology. The survey also showed that a majority of those who are aware of GenAI would be less inclined to trust AI-generated emails (66 per cent) and AI-delivered customer services (63 per cent). Meanwhile, ChatGPT remains the most popular GenAI tool among people in Ireland having been used by 49 per cent of GenAI users. This is far ahead of similar products such as Snapchat's 'My AI' (15 per cent), Microsoft Copilot (13 per cent) and Google Gemini (12 per cent). The survey took place prior to the release of DeepSeek's latest AI model. Emmanual Adeleke, Deloitte Ireland's GenAI Leader, said: "Employees in Ireland are racing ahead of their employers when it comes to GenAI. This means gains are being left on the table by employers and innovation is being stymied. "We're seeing the wide range of benefits GenAI creates for our clients in Deloitte, such as improved efficiency and productivity, but our survey shows that the vast majority of organisations do not have GenAI policies in place and they are not actively promoting its use or leading on its adoption even though their employees are increasingly using it to complete everyday tasks. "It is vital employers take the lead on the use of GenAI. They need to invest in initiatives and organisational changes that will drive adoption of GenAI tools and identify successful use cases for their organisations. "There is a risk in not reacting to the increase in usage, particularly because users are not fully appreciative of the dangers involved as indicated by the level of trust certain users have in GenAI tools, despite well-documented reliability issues. If employers invest properly in GenAI and integrate it correctly, they will uncover the challenges involved and the tremendous potential of this technology." He added: "Our survey found that some users are willing to experiment with GenAI, but they are lacking confidence when it comes to knowing how to use it and ultimately find the experience to be unsatisfactory. Organisations can address this through training and support, ensuring employees can use GenAI to meet their needs and transition into more frequent and more confident users. "Employers should also consider a tailored approach for GenAI in the workplace that can address the differences in usage among age groups. They can enhance workplace AI tools to boost professional usage, and address age disparities by ensuring that resources and training are accessible to all and building a comprehensive change management strategy to increase the adoption and impact of GenAI tools."

Companies failing to support employees are in AI danger zone

Deloitte's report shows that organisations are falling behind in the race to equip professionals with crucial AI skills. Professional services firm Deloitte has today (11 February) released a report indicating that companies based in Ireland are failing to keep up with employees when it comes to adopting and embracing the advantages of AI. The organisation surveyed 1,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 75 for the Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends report, which determines digital usage and attitudes towards technology. More than two-thirds (67pc) of responding generative AI (GenAI) users revealed that they use the technology to boost workplace productivity, despite less than a quarter (24pc) saying they have the backing of their employer. Additionally, the research has shown that Irish companies are in a precarious position, as 90pc of those who responded lack an appropriate GenAI policy, even though the survey suggests there has been a rise in the overall awareness and usage of AI in the workplace. Commenting on the potential for danger, Emmanual Adeleke, Deloitte Ireland's GenAI leader, said: "There is a risk in not reacting to the increase in usage, particularly because users are not fully appreciative of the dangers involved as indicated by the level of trust certain users have in GenAI tools, despite well-documented reliability issues. "If employers invest properly in GenAI and integrate it correctly, they will uncover the challenges involved and the tremendous potential of this technology." Use is highest among younger demographics, for example adults aged 18 to 24 (85pc), 25 to 34 (69pc) and 35 to 44 (56pc), with a steep drop among older age groups. ChatGPT remains the most popular GenAI tool among people in Ireland, with platforms such as Snapchat's My AI, Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini also ranking highly among users. Adeleke noted that employees in Ireland are racing ahead of their employers when it comes to GenAI and that the benefits of the technology and opportunities for innovation are being stifled. "Our survey shows that the vast majority of organisations do not have GenAI policies in place and they are not actively promoting its use or leading on its adoption, even though their employees are increasingly using it to complete everyday tasks. "It is vital employers take the lead on the use of GenAI. They need to invest in initiatives and organisational changes that will drive adoption of GenAI tools and identify successful use cases for their organisations." He noted that some users lack confidence when it comes to using AI tools. "Organisations can address this through training and support, ensuring employees can use GenAI to meet their needs and transition into more frequent and more confident users. Employers should also consider a tailored approach for GenAI in the workplace that can address the differences in usage among age groups." SiliconRepublic.com recently spoke to TCS' Virginia Lee about the evolving digital landscape and how rapid advancements in technologies such as GenAI, cloud computing and IoT are bringing immense opportunities alongside unprecedented risks. Don't miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic's digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.