A new report from consultancy BearingPoint finds that only 4% of Irish organisations that have implemented AI have fully scaled it, compared to 13% globally. The study, which surveyed 1,050 C-suite executives and senior leaders across 13 countries, says that while AI adoption is growing, deep integration remains rare. In Ireland, 63% of firms report limited AI projects, but just 6% have fully integrated AI, versus 11% globally.
The report warns of an “AI productivity trap”: deploying more technology does not guarantee stronger financial performance. Sustainable value, it argues, depends on linking AI investment to financial accountability, trusted data, scalable architecture, workforce adaptation, governance and measurable outcomes. Management decisions, not just technology, are key to turning new capacity into value.
BearingPoint partner Gerard Hayes says that while many organisations can launch AI pilots, scaling them securely and consistently is much harder. Governance, compliance and workforce planning become more significant at scale. The report notes that 80% of Irish firms are conducting ongoing skills-gap assessments as they prepare for AI transformation.
Hayes adds that Irish organisations show strong ambition for agentic AI, with 43% seeing it as a future priority, compared to 26% globally. Aligning AI and workforce strategies will be critical as capabilities and market direction continue to evolve rapidly.
