Irish companies investing much less in AI than international counterparts

Regardless of the hole, the analysis discovered that nearly 70pc of Irish executives have formal expertise transformation methods in place.

New analysis from the newest Forvis Mazars C-suite Barometer: Outlook 2026 report has discovered that whereas Irish organisations prioritise using synthetic intelligence (AI) in long-term development plans, when it comes to funding, corporations are lagging behind their international counterparts. 

Skilled companies agency Forvis Mazars’ analysis examines the views, challenges and strategic priorities of right this moment’s C-suite leaders globally. For the aim of the research, information was collected from 3012 C-suite leaders, together with from Eire, between October and November of 2025. 

What was found is that Irish companies are “investing considerably much less in AI than their international counterparts, at the same time as they acknowledge it as vital to aggressive benefit, indicating a possible aggressive vulnerability”. 

Of contributing Irish executives, 68pc have expertise transformation plans in place, with AI of key significance; nonetheless, solely 10pc mentioned they allocate greater than 20pc of their tech funds to AI. This falls brief in comparison with the 15pc globally who allocate extra. The analysis suggests this raises “essential questions on whether or not Irish companies can maintain aggressive benefit with out rising funding”. 

Commenting on the findings of the report, Liam McKenna, a companion at Forvis Mazars in Eire, mentioned: “Irish enterprise leaders are satisfied of AI’s significance and are shifting quick to implement it. What’s regarding is the funding hole. 

“Whereas they specific the very best confidence in AI ROI amongst all expertise investments, their funds allocation doesn’t reside as much as that. With Irish companies investing at decrease charges than international friends, they danger lacking the chance AI brings and aggressive vulnerability. Now could be the time for boards to align their funding with their technique.”

Producing jobs

Forvis Mazars’ information additionally highlighted the potential of AI to create future profession alternatives for professionals in Eire, with 44pc of members reporting the creation of recent roles round AI. Nearly 1 / 4 of leaders, nonetheless, did report job displacement. “This implies a workforce in transition with expertise evolving quite than disappearing, although it raises questions on reskilling, expertise improvement and schooling pipeline readiness,” acknowledged the analysis. 

Whereas three-quarters of collaborating Eire-based leaders expressed their moral and societal considerations round AI, they have been discovered to nonetheless be open to the adoption of superior expertise. The report means that Irish companies are grappling with accountable AI deployment, as they attempt to harness a aggressive benefit whereas managing social and governance dangers.

McKenna mentioned: “The organisations that win within the subsequent three to 5 years will likely be those who transfer decisively on AI funding whereas managing danger and moral and societal considerations in parallel.

“Irish companies should bridge the funding hole whereas constructing the infrastructure, expertise and governance frameworks to assist accountable AI adoption. This implies stronger collaboration between enterprise, schooling and authorities to unlock the complete potential of AI as a aggressive benefit.”

Final week (19 February) Irish-owned international skilled companies firm Morgan McKinley revealed the findings of the 2026 Morgan McKinley Irish Wage Information. As a part of its analysis, the organisation highlighted how, whereas Eire’s labour market is energetic, it’s turning into much more disciplined in the way it hires – that is to say that hiring and improved salaries are sometimes being reserved for these with expertise thought of to be vital to supply or danger administration.

Within the expertise ecosystem, for instance, probably the most in-demand roles have been discovered to be positions in information engineering, cybersecurity analytics and danger specialisation, machine studying engineering and information science, AI auditing and AI ethics, automation and dev-ops. The report additionally mentioned that new roles for AI auditors and ethicists have emerged as a response to regulatory frameworks. 

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