Peninsula recently completed a survey of how client businesses are engaging with AI. The results have been interesting and will hopefully provide employers in Ireland with better insight into how companies are currently interacting with AI. The following information may help inform how you use AI as part of your future business model. 356 clients participated in the survey and response figures are based on actual business numbers and not percentage.  

How many businesses are currently engaging with AI? 

Of the 356 businesses participating in the survey, there was a high number, 246, who haven’t incorporated AI into their business yet. 87 businesses use it sporadically while 22 regularly use AI in their daily practices. There was only one participant who stated that AI played a large part in their business.

What are the key functions business clients are using AI for?

Respondents were asked what key functions AI was being utilised for in their businesses. The answers were an interesting insight into how employers are currently engaging with AI. 74 businesses use AI in an administrative manner while 52 businesses use AI for creative writing. 21 businesses used AI for HR functions while only 11 used AI for customer service and 9 for finance and accounting. Of the 356 businesses participating in the survey, 227 said they are not using AI.

Key concerns businesses have using AI at work

As part of the survey, businesses were asked about their key concerns using AI in work. Out of 356 responses, it doesn’t seem surprising that 188 said

they are concerned that AI may pose a risk to security. There has been plenty of literature and films which have played on the notion of AI as a potentially deadly threat. These negative portrayals of AI may cause some businesses owners to be naturally suspicious of the technology. How this view of AI as a security risk will shift over time will be interesting to see.

How businesses describe the role of AI will play in the workforce.

The question here was ‘which statement best describes your view on the role AI will play in the workforce?’ From the 356 businesses surveyed, 96 said that they felt it would have a positive influence and 83 businesses felt that AI would be useful but that it wouldn’t overtake traditional work processes. Another 83 were fearful of the unknown problems that AI could bring while 65 respondents believed that AI would have some negative influences on the workforce. A smaller number, 29, felt AI would have a highly detrimental effect on the modern workforce.

Do you think AI will reduce the number of people employed at your company?

Out of the 356 businesses participating, 3 respondents stated that the use of AI has already reduced the number of people employed at their company. While 4 companies are anticipating that people will be replaced due to AI usage within the next year. 88 responses anticipated job losses in the future at some point due to their use of AI while 106 were unsure. 155 businesses believed that AI could not reduce the number of people employed because AI could replace them.

What industry did most of the participants work in?

There was a broad range of businesses that participated in the survey. Engineering and manufacturing were the predominant group at 55, while the health and care sector was not far behind at 48, wholesale and retail were at 37, and property and construction at 34. Other participant businesses ranged from leisure, sport, or tourism, charity sector, and public services and administration. Because of this varied range it is worth thinking about what type of business will be more inclined in the future to use AI as part of their business processes. Engagement with AI for businesses will depend on the very nature of that business. Perhaps for future

consideration it may be worth considering what types of businesses will typically depend on AI use in the future and what that usage will look like.