A new global research has revealed Irish employers are the least likely to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace.
The study, which was carried out by HR firm The Peninsula Group, surveyed 79,000 businesses across Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.
It noted that employers in Australia and New Zealand lead in regularly utilising AI technology, while Irish businesses show the most hesitation.
A major concern among Irish employers is a fear of the unknown, with nearly one in four expressing apprehension about adopting AI.
The research also uncovered that over half of Irish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) worry about the security risks posed by AI. This concern is a key factor behind their reluctance to integrate AI into their operations.
A notable increase was observed in the number of Irish employers anxious about the potential reputational impact of using AI.
Globally, a third of SMEs believe that AI has the potential to bring about positive changes in the workplace. However, one in ten businesses feel AI could be highly detrimental to their operations.
Despite a 50 per cent year-on-year rise in AI usage among SMEs, adoption rates remain low, with only one in ten regularly using AI in their business processes.
Concerns about security risks, reputational harm, legal violations, loss of intellectual property, and reduced work quality have all seen significant increases in the past year.