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

Irish Employees Embrace AI, Companies Struggle to Keep Pace

A recent Deloitte Digital Consumer Trends survey has unveiled a significant disconnect between Irish employees' adoption of generative AI (GenAI) and their employers' readiness to support and regulate its use in the workplace. The study, which surveyed 1,000 adults in Ireland, highlights the growing importance of AI in the professional landscape and the potential risks associated with unregulated use 1

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Widespread Adoption and Productivity Gains

The survey reveals a substantial increase in GenAI usage among Irish employees. Nearly half (48%) of respondents have used GenAI, up from 33% in 2023. Notably, 67% of GenAI users report increased productivity at work, with 44% utilizing the technology for tasks such as writing and editing emails, and information lookup 1

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Age Disparities in AI Adoption

GenAI usage shows a clear generational divide:

• 85% of 18-24 year-olds use GenAI
• 69% of 25-34 year-olds
• 56% of 35-44 year-olds
• 34% of 45-54 year-olds
• 22% of 55-64 year-olds
• 20% of 65-75 year-olds 1

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Employer Support Lags Behind

Despite the widespread adoption and perceived benefits, only 24% of respondents say their employer actively encourages the use of GenAI. More alarmingly, 90% of Irish companies lack a GenAI policy, potentially exposing themselves to risks associated with unregulated AI use 1

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Trust and Concerns

The survey highlights a complex relationship between users and GenAI:

• 28% of users believe GenAI responses are unbiased
• 34% agree that the technology "always produces accurate responses"
• 60% worry about job displacement due to AI
• 46% are concerned about AI replacing parts of their role 1

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Popular GenAI Tools

ChatGPT remains the most widely used GenAI tool in Ireland, with 49% of users having experience with it. Other popular tools include Snapchat's 'My AI' (15%), Microsoft Copilot (13%), and Google Gemini (12%) 1

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Expert Recommendations

Emmanual Adeleke, Deloitte Ireland's GenAI Leader, emphasizes the need for proactive measures:

"It is vital employers take the lead on the use of GenAI. They need to invest in initiatives and organizational changes that will drive adoption of GenAI tools and identify successful use cases for their organizations." 2

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Adeleke recommends that companies:

1. Develop comprehensive GenAI policies
2. Provide training and support to boost employee confidence
3. Implement a tailored approach to address age disparities in usage
4. Invest in proper integration to uncover challenges and potential 1

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As the AI landscape continues to evolve rapidly, Irish companies must act swiftly to harness the benefits of GenAI while mitigating potential risks. Failure to do so may result in missed opportunities for innovation and efficiency gains in an increasingly competitive global market.