Majority of Irish workplaces see benefits of AI despite low adoption, PwC survey shows

A PwC survey of nearly 50,000 workers across 48 economies reveals that while AI adoption in Irish workplaces remains low, the majority of users report clear benefits.

Only 43% of Irish employees used AI in the past 12 months, with daily usage of generative AI tools at 10% and AI agents at 3%.

Among Irish AI users, 67% reported higher productivity, 64% noted improvements in work quality, and 55% experienced greater creativity. While slightly below global averages of 74%, 75%, and 69% respectively, these results demonstrate that AI can deliver tangible workforce benefits even with limited adoption.

Laoise Mullane, director and AI adoption lead at PwC Ireland, said AI is already shaping the future of work, with the biggest gains going to those embracing it. "We’re seeing teams become faster and more creative," she added, noting that unlocking AI’s potential requires moving beyond pilots, improving processes, and investing in upskilling.

The survey also highlighted uneven access to upskilling resources, with only 57% of Irish respondents saying they have the tools they need for learning and development, compared to 59% globally.

Half of Irish workers feel their teams treat failure as a learning opportunity, slightly below the global 54% benchmark. Trust in management is divided, with 58% understanding their organisation’s goals.

Ger McDonough, partner in PwC Ireland’s workforce advisory practice, said AI is already boosting productivity, work quality, and creativity, though only 10% use GenAI daily. "This isn’t just a technology story; it’s a people story," he added, noting that alignment with leadership increases motivation by 78%.

Discover how Irish workplaces can harness AI to improve workforce performance and engagement in the full story.