Accenture finds that employees increasingly believe that reinvention is inevitable, yet many are being asked to adopt new technologies without the necessary training.
Artificial intelligence, for many workers, has become a core part of the workplace. It can make arduous tasks less time-consuming, create more fulfilling career opportunities and inform decision-making through data generation and analysis.
Employers have also begun to rely on AI, as have many organizations, good or badthey rely on artificial intelligence as a way to reduce costs and improve efficiency. However, as shown in a recent report from Irish technology consultancy Accenture, there is a growing disconnect between AI expectations and the level of readiness among the workforce.
A new Accenture report, Generating Impact: Transforming the potential of AI across the border into productivity and growth in Irelandexplored how AI, while rapidly becoming part of everyday work in Ireland, is still in the early stages of how to use AI to transform the way work is completed.
To collect the data, Accenture surveyed 2,085 employees in the UK and Ireland in February and March 2026. The sample was balanced across genders, covering a wide age range, with around 30pc under 35. Accenture also surveyed 510 business executives in the UK and Ireland, from mid-market and large businesses.
What Accenture found is that there is a significant gap between the pace of individual adoption and businesses making the changes needed to use AI effectively. The report argued that without “targeted investment in skills, workflow redesign and strong core systems, Ireland would struggle to fully realize the productivity and growth benefits of AI”.
Unclear direction
The data suggests that while employees are enthusiastic about AI, there is a need for increased training and transparency. 70pc of participants said AI and new technologies have the potential to improve their jobs. However, more than three in five expect to update skills as AI changes the way they work, almost half say they were expected to use new technologies they were not trained in and 39pc feel unprepared to work with AI tools or systems in their field.
The lack of confidence and knowledge in the AI space is not isolated to individual employees, the report notes. While 44pc of Irish business leaders who participated said they were investing in re-employment and recycling, many contributors were found to lack the necessary infrastructure to scale.
A third of employers admitted that employees do not have clear guidance on when or how to use AI tools and agents and only 35pc of Irish business leaders have conducted a formal AI skills survey. In addition, shadow AIwhich is the illegal use of unauthorized AI, is also an ongoing problem, with 30pc of workers reporting self-help tools.
The return on investment for organisations, in relation to AI, is also open to interpretation, as despite two out of five Irish business leaders reporting cost reductions linked to AI, overall value capture has not changed, with 72pc of Irish managers saying at least some of their AI budget has been wasted. More than a third say AI has provided little to no positive impact on profit and loss so far.
The report said, “Looking ahead, agent AI readiness remains low, with 54pc of executives saying their organization is not yet ready to integrate agent AI with core business systems. Executives identify data security (37pc) and regulatory concerns (32pc) among the biggest barriers to scaling AI, along with a lack of skilled talent (37pc)
Commenting on the findings, Hilary O’Meara, country managing director, Accenture Ireland, said: “Ireland has all the ingredients to lead the age of AI, a skilled workforce, a proven public and private sector to deliver, deep connections with the global technology industry and real national ambition.
“AI will reshape roles, skills, and ways of working in every sector. Leaders must invest in their people as they invest in technology, building the confidence and skills that transform AI from a powerful tool into a way of working. That makes continued investment in learning and training all the more important. Organizations that will succeed are those that embed AI in the way they work, not just the tools they use.”
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