TLDR: Irish mid-sized businesses have demonstrated a significant increase in confidence regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption during the first half of 2025. A report by Grant Thornton indicates a positive shift from viewing AI as “overrated” to actively implementing usage policies and integrating AI tools for productivity gains. Despite this surge, concerns about data security and privacy remain prominent challenges.
Confidence in Artificial Intelligence (AI) among Irish mid-sized businesses has seen a notable surge in the first six months of 2025, according to the latest International Business Report (IBR) by Grant Thornton. The professional services firm’s findings highlight a significant positive shift in the perception of AI, moving from skepticism to practical, hands-on adoption.
The proportion of Irish executives who considered AI “overrated” has sharply declined from 45% to 23%. This indicates a clear transition within the business community from cautious experimentation to confident deployment of AI technologies. Shane O’Neill, technology and digital consulting partner at Grant Thornton, commented on this trend, stating, “Over the past six months we’ve heard that Irish mid-size businesses are shifting from cautious experimentation to confident deployment of AI. Executives are no longer debating whether the technology is ‘over-hyped’.”
Businesses are now actively engaged in establishing robust AI usage policies, training staff, and embedding AI tools into their daily operations. This practical approach is yielding tangible productivity gains, particularly in critical areas such as data analysis, customer support, and internal knowledge-sharing. The report reveals that more than half (53%) of firms now require employees to adhere to a company AI usage policy when utilizing generative AI tools like ChatGPT, a substantial increase from 37% at the end of the previous year.
However, this growing enthusiasm is tempered by persistent concerns, primarily surrounding data security. A significant six out of ten executives express worry about employees inputting sensitive information into generative AI platforms. Furthermore, privacy has emerged as the foremost barrier to AI adoption, with 58% of Irish executives identifying it as a key challenge, up from 35% previously. O’Neill emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns: “Until organisations can guarantee that sensitive data fed into AI systems remains secure and compliant, adoption will continue to bump against serious privacy concerns.” He added, “We believe the winners here will be those firms that treat governance and transparency as strategically important: investing in building clear policies and communicating openly with employees and customers about how information is used.”
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Despite these challenges, companies have shown a marked improvement in their ability to identify practical applications for AI. Only a fifth (22%) of mid-sized firms now cite “difficulty determining productive uses” as a challenge, a significant drop from 48% previously. This indicates a maturing understanding of AI’s potential and a more strategic approach to its integration within Irish businesses.
