Research from Expleo Ireland shows that 70% of Ireland's largest enterprises believe AI's impact on workforces is so profound that it should be managed like an employee to avoid conflicts with company culture and staff.

The company's latest Business Transformation Index study shows that 98% of large enterprises are using AI in some form, but 67% believe their organisation can’t effectively use AI because their data is too disorganised.

As a result, just 30% have integrated and scaled AI models into their systems, and 23% dmitted that they are struggling to find use cases for AI beyond the use of off-the-shelf large language models (LLMs).

A total of 200 IT and business decision-makers at enterprises in Ireland with more than 250 employees were questioned for the survey on matters such as digital transformation, geopolitics, AI and DEI.

Senior decision-makers are making fundamental changes to the skills make-up of their teams due to AI's influence and its capabilities.

Nearly three-quarters (72%) of large firms have made changes to the criteria they seek from job candidates because AI can now take on some tasks, and its applications require expertise in other areas.

Meanwhile, more than two-thirds (68%) of enterprises that are deploying AI have stopped hiring for certain roles entirely because AI can handle the requirements. 

Three in 10 (30%) respondents cite workforce displacement as one of their greatest fears resulting from AI, but 72% report that they will pay more for team members who have AI-specific skills. 

Furthermore, 78% of organisations say the correct and ethical use of AI is now covered in their employment contracts, but a quarter (25%) conceded a possibility that the AI used for hiring, retention or employee progression in their organisation could be biased. 

A further 25% are not confident that their organisation is compliant with the EU AI Act, which 76% believe will hinder the adoption of AI in their organisation.

Phil Codd, managing director of Expleo Ireland, said the pace of change being seen with AI is like nothing we have seen before, not even the Industrial Revolution in terms of how quickly or indiscriminately it has unfolded and affected people and industries.

"Business leaders are entering untrodden ground as they try to solve how AI can work for them – both practically and ethically – and without causing clashes within teams," he continued.

"There is no question that there is a new digital colleague joining Irish workplaces and it will define the next chapter of our working lives and economy.

"However, the success of this seemingly autonomous technology will always depend on the humans and data that back it up."

Photo: Siobhán Smith, global brand communications director, and Phil Codd, managing director, Expleo Ireland. (Pic: Supplied)