Ireland’s Top AI Startups Flexing Their Muscle’s….
The Irish findings highlight a strong relationship between workplace encouragement and regular AI usage.
Ireland has emerged as the global frontrunner in workplace AI adoption, according to new research from Indeed Hiring Lab. Based on responses from more than 80,000 workers across multiple countries, the survey found that 70% of Irish employees now use AI tools as part of their jobs.
This places Ireland well ahead of other major economies, with workplace AI usage reported at 48% in Australia, 46% in Germany and 41% in the UK. Indeed also noted that personal experimentation with AI is widespread across all countries, as many workers try tools independently before they are formally introduced in the workplace.
In Ireland, employer support appears to be a key driver of adoption. Around 37% of workers say their organisation actively encourages AI use — a level of backing that Indeed links directly to higher engagement and everyday integration of AI tools.
Employer encouragement boosts confidence
The Irish findings highlight a strong relationship between workplace encouragement and regular AI usage. Countries where fewer employers promote AI adoption tend to see much lower uptake, underscoring the importance of organisational support.
Ireland also recorded the lowest level of AI disengagement among the eight countries surveyed. Only 16% of Irish workers fall into the “disengaged” category — those who do not use AI and do not believe they need training. By contrast, that group represents 40% of workers in the United States.
Skills confidence also plays a role. Indeed found that workers who actively use AI are often the ones most likely to request further training, as hands-on experience tends to reveal knowledge gaps rather than eliminate them.
Jack Kennedy, Senior Economist at Indeed, said employer support is crucial: “Employer encouragement and ongoing training make a clear difference to how confidently and effectively people use AI.”
AI is delivering major time savings
Irish workers also report some of the strongest productivity gains linked to AI. Around half of Irish AI users say these tools save them three hours or more each day. Across all eight countries, between 81% and 96% of AI users reported saving at least one hour daily.
The benefits, however, vary widely. The UK recorded the highest share of workers saying AI saves them no time at all, at 20%, while Ireland sits at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Many respondents said the time freed up is being reinvested into higher-value tasks, skill development, improved output quality and better work-life balance.
Kennedy added: “When AI is used well, it is already freeing up time for higher value work, learning and better work life balance.”
Irish and Ireland-based startups driving AI innovation
Ireland’s strong AI adoption is also reflected in a growing ecosystem of innovative companies working at the intersection of AI, analytics and deep tech.
Hurree, founded in Belfast by entrepreneur Aaron Gibson, is building an AI-powered analytics platform that helps organisations make better decisions without needing specialist data teams. By allowing users to query business data in plain English, Hurree aims to eliminate time-consuming reporting and dashboard overload.
Partsol is developing cognitive AI systems designed to operate without hallucinations or errors — an essential requirement for high-stakes sectors like healthcare, finance and law. The company is preparing to launch its new platform, Atai, and recently relocated its headquarters from the US to Ireland, citing the country’s regulatory clarity and strategic position within Europe.
Meanwhile, CHIPX Global represents Ireland’s expanding footprint at the intersection of AI and semiconductor innovation. The company focuses on energy-efficient chip technologies and sustainable manufacturing approaches, supporting the next generation of AI compute, power management and edge devices.
Together, these developments reinforce Ireland’s position not only as a leader in AI adoption, but also as a growing hub for AI-driven innovation across industries.
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