Crossing the Chasm: The State of AI Adoption in Ireland & the UK

This report by the AI Institute explores the state of AI adoption in businesses across Ireland and the UK, with a focus on how generative AI (Gen AI) is creating a competitive divide.

The insights are based on interviews and conversations with more than 60 Irish and UK corporates conducted between August and September 2024.

Key Findings

Adoption Disparity

• A small minority of businesses (Innovators and Early Adopters) are seeing significant productivity gains.
• Over 80% of organisations risk being left behind, widening economic and competitive divides.

Barriers to Adoption

• Regulatory concerns
• Lack of expertise
• Legacy systems
• Competing priorities
• Sceptical leadership

These factors are slowing down progress, especially for the Early Majority.

Productivity Gains

• Businesses that integrate AI strategically are reporting up to 20% productivity improvement.
• Gains include enhanced output, stronger customer engagement, and greater cost efficiency.

Cultural Shifts Required

• Organisational readiness, comprehensive training, and a test-and-learn culture are critical to success.

Ireland vs. the UK

Ireland’s Advantage

• Entrepreneurial attitudes are helping Ireland lead in adoption.
• This could translate into economy-wide productivity gains faster than in the UK.

UK’s Scale

• The UK’s larger market size and stronger access to venture capital may enable it to overtake Ireland over time.

Recommendations

For organisations seeking to stay ahead, the report highlights five priorities:

1. Commit to strategic integration of AI into business strategy.
2. Develop broad use cases across multiple departments.
3. Prioritise implementation based on clear ROI.
4. Integrate AI into workflows while fostering innovation.
5. Invest in training and embrace a culture of experimentation and continuous improvement.

Conclusion

The gap between early adopters and lagging businesses will continue to widen in the coming year.

• Countries and companies that adopt AI strategically will lead.
• Those that delay risk falling into obsolescence.

This report underscores the transformative potential of AI and the critical steps required to cross the chasm to broad-based adoption.

Conclusion

The gap between early adopters and lagging businesses will likely widen in the coming year, emphasising the urgency for organisations to act. Countries and companies that embrace AI strategically are poised to lead, while others risk obsolescence.

This report underscores the transformative potential of AI and the critical steps required to cross the chasm to broad-based adoption.

Crossing The Chasm Report

Download report (pdf)

About the AI Institute

The AI Institute is a training and advisory firm based in Ireland and servicing the UK, Ireland, and the Middle East.

We help organisations adopt AI responsibly through:

• AI education
• Automation support
• Strategic consulting for business teams

Our expertise spans marketing, operations, and leadership, ensuring businesses can capture AI’s full potential.

Don’t get left behind. Build your Core AI Skills now - enroll today.

‍