Professor Aideen Ryan, Professor in Tumour Immunology at University of Galway's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Photo: Andrew Downes

Researchers at the University of Galway have revealed the results of a world-first study into how bowel cancer shuts down the immune system, and how this can be reversed to improve treatment.

The findings have been published in the Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (JITC).

Breakthrough for bowel cancer immunotherapy

The research team showed how structural stromal cells switch off the immune system and how the body's own killer cells can be switched back on, opening up the opportunity for a completely new approach to optimising immunotherapy for patients.

Colorectal cancer - commonly referred to as bowel cancer - is one of the world's most common cancers and the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Diagnoses in people under 50 have been climbing in recent decades, with recent global analysis showing these early-onset cases have almost doubled since 1990. In Ireland, the disease affects more than 2,500 people a year.

Professor Aideen Ryan, Professor in Tumour Immunology at University of Galway's College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, said: "While immunotherapy has revolutionised care in cancers such as melanoma and lung cancer, it has shown very limited benefit in bowel cancer, leaving patients with advanced disease with few treatment options and poor survival outcomes."

The breakthrough research discovery is the first to demonstrate that tumour stromal cells - the structural cells that support cancer growth - are directly reprogramming the immune system. They do this by switching off, or hijacking, two of our body's most important tumour-fighting cells - the natural killers (NK) and macrophages - rendering them unable to attack the cancer.

Professor Ryan said: "The interaction between the cancer, our body's healthy cells and our defence mechanism is a complex one, but our research shows that the cancer is essentially creating an immune brake - it is blocking the body's natural response and fight mechanism."

What has been discovered in relation to how the cancer interacts with the human body?

Tumour stromal cells are the structural cells which allow the cancer to grow. They are coated in sugars called sialoglycans. These interact with receptors on the body's immune cells called Siglecs. This interaction causes the body's natural defence response to be switched off and unresponsive when immunotherapy is used, and therefore unable to attack the cancer.

The research identified a specific enzyme that drives this process of 'switching off', as it produces the Siglec-binding sugars on stromal cells.

When the researchers blocked this pathway using drugs called sialidases, they could show that the body's most important tumour-fighting cells - the natural killers (NK) and macrophages - reactivated. It showed that the tumours shrank and the spread of cancer, known as metastasis, was prevented.

The multidisciplinary research was conducted in collaboration with colorectal surgeons and pathologists at Galway University Hospital, led by Professor Aisling Hogan and Professor Sean Hynes; as well as experts in colorectal cancer - Dr Philip Dunne, Queen's University Belfast and experts in targeting sialoglycans at Palleon Pharmaceuticals, MA, USA, who have developed sialidase drugs that disrupt the sialoglycan-Siglec interaction.

Professor Ryan added: "Our research is a clear breakthrough in our understanding of bowel cancer and how immunotherapy could be more successful. This world-first finding shows that some of the bowel cancer cells are not just passive bystanders, they are actively reprogramming the body's immune cells, preventing them from doing their job. We have uncovered an entirely new checkpoint and by focusing on it we can reactivate the immune system and improve our body's innate ability to fight the disease, and even target metastasis."

Michael O'Dwyer, Pro...

The first businesses have been successfully onboarded to the forthcoming Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card, following an information meeting in the town.

A replacement to Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber's paper chamber vouchers, the new Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card is set to launch pre-Christmas.

The original paper system launched in 2008. Following massive growth, sales of these vouchers reach in excess of €1million every year.

The Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card will be available as either a physical card or a digital e-card. Digital cards can be added to digital wallets enabling tap to pay technology.

Around 150 businesses currently accept the paper chamber vouchers, with all eligible to accept the new card which works on the Mastercard system. There are no costs for businesses to register to accept the Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card, and no additional equipment is required.

Various in person and online information meetings were held for the business community and were attended by representatives from Miconex, founders of the Town & City Gift Card program active across Ireland. Miconex will provide the technology for the new Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card.

Dungarvan & West Waterford Chamber CEO, Jenny Beresford, said the upgrade to a physical and digital card builds on the success of the paper programme: "It's a case of 'you spoke, we listened' with the new card. Moving away from paper to a card system is something businesses and consumers have requested for some time now. Our goal was a tried and tested system which is what we have with the new card provided by Miconex. We trust Miconex to deliver this for us.

"There will be many benefits for all involved, especially businesses. With the paper vouchers, recipients were confined to spending in one business, whereas with the new card, they can spend with multiple participating businesses. This will spread the benefit out to more businesses. Merchants get paid into their bank like any other Mastercard transaction, taking away the paper voucher administration. The simplicity is what businesses love.

"It's great to see so many businesses signing up to accept the card. Our goal over the coming weeks is to get all of our participating businesses set up and ready to accept the cards in readiness for the Christmas season."

Colin Munro is the managing director of Miconex and said: "The registration process to accept the forthcoming Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card is simple and involves businesses completing an online form and undertaking a test transaction. The Town & City Gift Card initiative is a proven means to drive revenue and spend to local businesses and with the new Dungarvan & West Waterford Gift Card, we can build on the success of the paper chamber voucher with a future-proofed gift card that will take 'shop local' to the next level in Dungarvan and West Waterford."

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The latest Everhaze "Battle of the Airwaves" report has found that Fianna Fáil's leadership turmoil was the most defining and negatively framed story of the 2025 Presidential election, eclipsing all other topics across more than 16,000 radio mentions. The fallout, which was intertwined with Jim Gavin's withdrawal generated over 2,000 mentions resulting in a sustained national discussion and an average negative weighted sentiment of -43.8 pp, the lowest of the election.

Amid the turbulence, Maria Steen emerged as an unexpected winner of the campaign, gaining national prominence on a non-polarising current securing 1,300 mentions largely avoiding controversy and securing net sentiment of +1.0 pp. In contrast, the two leading candidates, Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys, were both drawn into negative narratives late in the race, as Connolly's "Bank Representation" (-3.6 pp) and Humphreys' "Shane O'Farrell" (-4.2 pp) storylines became the most damaging stories of their respective campaigns.

Connolly ultimately led the airwaves in the final fortnight (44.1% share of voice, +2.3 pp net sentiment) with coverage driven by governance reform and community advocacy themes. Humphreys followed at 37.3% (-2.6 pp), her tone weighed down by ongoing justice and departmental accountability discussions. Gavin's residual post-withdrawal commentary held 18.6% (-3.6 pp) and remained strongly associated with leadership fallout.

Local radio again proved decisive, accounting for 72% of all mentions, while national talk shows supplied narrative framing and tone moderation. Overall sentiment across the campaign closed slightly negative (-0.8 pp net), underscoring a cycle defined more by leadership disruption and controversy than by policy promotion.

Speaking about the findings, James McCann, CEO of Everhaze said:

"Jim Gavin's withdrawal from the race, and the ensuing fallout for Fianna Fáil's leadership, will likely stand as the defining story of the 2025 Presidential campaign. Equally striking is how Maria Steen's absence from the ballot became an unexpected advantage. The sheer volume of her mentions, combined with their notably non-polarising tone, propelled her into national prominence without the burden of controversy. It's also unsurprising that Catherine Connolly was the only candidate to finish with a positive sentiment score, largely because Heather Humphreys' campaign struggled to generate strong counter-narratives capable of offsetting a series of negative stories."

The Battle of the Airwaves: Irish Presidential Campaign 2025 report analysed more than 16,000 radio mentions from 60 stations nationwide, tracking sentiment, share of voice, geography, and trend dynamics between 24 September and 25 October 2025.

Everhaze is an Irish-built PR intelligence platform that tracks real-time media coverage across radio, print, and online sources in Ireland and the UK. Its technology combines broadcast capture with AI-driven analysis to map who is getting talked about, where, and in what tone. The platform is widely used by communicators to monitor campaigns, understand sentiment shifts, and measure share of voice.

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More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

Dyle, is a tech startup founded out of Ireland and MIT. The founder of Dyle, Oisín O'Sullivan, previously led Klarna's launch in Ireland and is now building Dyle in NYC. Oisin has had an interesting journey rom Ireland to MIT to Klarna to leading a venture-backed AI company. Now based in ERA, New York's top tech accelerator, Dyle has raised $500k+ in venture funding. I recently caught up with Oisin to find out more about his interesting journey.

Oisin, talks about his background, his interesting journey, ERA and more.

More about Dyle:

Dyle offers AI software that finds revenue opportunities by analysing data from tools like Slack, Salesforce, and Amplitude. Dyle is also the first Agentic AI Account Manager that unifies product analytics and CRM data to surface customer signals, driving expansion and retention revenue. Dyle was recently part of Irish Tech Week NYC, just after their ERA Demo Day at Google, and they were on the Times Square Billboards last week.

See more podcasts here.

More about Irish Tech News

Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.

You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news

If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at [email protected] now to discuss.

Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at [email protected] now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.

You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

By Billy Linehan

Maker Faire Festival of invention

Maker Faire Rome is a family-friendly festival of invention, creativity and resourcefulness. It brings together creators, tinkerers, artists, scientists, engineers and enthusiasts of all ages to showcase their projects, share ideas, learn from each other and connect.

Each year the fair attracts a wide range of participants from across Europe and beyond. The 2025 edition, held at the Gazometro Ostiense site in Rome, showed how Italy presents technology as something open to everyone rather than the preserve of specialists or companies. It is a public meeting place where ideas, skills and tools are shared.

Curated by Innova Camera

The event is promoted and organised by Innova Camera, the Special Agency of the Rome Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Italian Trade Agency and other public partners. ENI, Italy's leading energy company, was the Platinum Partner for Maker Faire Rome 2025, showcasing its work in sustainable energy and innovation.

Readers can see my first report on the event, published in Irish Tech News , which gives background on the fair's scale and purpose. This follow-up looks at what stood out for me in 2025 and why Maker Faire Rome continues to matter.

A city of invention

Rome becomes a city of invention for three days. People attend to show what they have built, not simply what they intend to sell. Exhibitors range from individual hobbyists to full university research groups. Companies such as Digikey and Arduino are there alongside independent makers. Robots, devices made from recycled materials and new teaching tools for electronics and coding are all on display.

The organisers placed a stronger emphasis this year on sustainability, digital manufacturing and human-centred technology.

Makers tackling real problems

Across the halls and marquees, the emphasis was on solving practical problems. Many exhibitors focused on energy, agriculture, health and sustainability rather than consumer gadgets.

The DAFNE project (Digital Agriculture Framework for the Networked Economy), led by the University of Tuscia, focused on combatting the Xylella pathogen that attacks olive trees. It showed how crop-protection research can connect scientific study with practical farming applications.

At the University of Siena, a public health team presented UV-Heroes , a device for disinfecting stethoscopes that addresses a genuine hospital hygiene issue.

Access to digitised heritage

Elsewhere, the Rome-based startup Scan Heritage demonstrated both 2D and 3D digitisation of cultural and archival materials. Their work creates accurate digital copies of documents, artefacts and objects to support preservation, study and public access. The approach has some similarities with Ireland's Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, as both protect fragile archives through digital access.

These examples reflected a grounded approach to technology, linking design with real-world needs.

Highlights from the fair

With hundreds of exhibits spread across four gasometers, halls, pavilions and outdoor spaces, Maker Faire Rome covered everything from electronics and robotics to applied research and digital art. I focused on projects where ideas are being put to use, alongside creators working with materials and form.

A lively robot-football tournament drew large crowds. The SPQR team from Sapienza University of Rome played against visiting teams from the Netherlands and Germany, showing how academic research can be turned into fast, reactive machines.

Swiss maker Manuel Imboden presented his Open Source Satellite Kit, an open CubeSat model that helps beginners understand space technology. A former film producer, Imboden turned to electronics and engineering during the pandemic and has since built an online following through his YouTube channel.

Technology with a Human Purpose

Several research projects showed how technology supports social and medical work. The Pet Robots research team from the Universit...

Guest post by Cillian McCarthy, CEO, Paradyn

More often than not, the weakest link in any organisation's defences is its people. Evolving social engineering tactics such as deepfakes, an ever-increasing volume of cyberattacks, and the growing sophistication of threats from would-be hackers combine to make a perfect cybersecurity storm which can confuse and overwhelm employees. A key reason for this is a lack of cybersecurity awareness, and that's why building a strong cybersecurity culture is paramount.

Transforming employees into active defenders

Cultivating a culture of cyber awareness is about transforming employees from potential vulnerabilities into active defenders. However, this doesn't happen overnight or during a single training session - it's a continuous process which must be evolved in line with changing risks. It also must start from the top down, and business leaders should set the example for the rest of the organisation and demonstrate their commitment by actively driving increased cyber awareness. Communication is key and when it comes to an organisation's security policies, it's crucial to explain the "why" behind the "what". Demonstrating the real-world impacts will help to cement the vital importance of adhering to security protocols.

Knowledge is power

This is where cybersecurity awareness training comes in. The threat landscape is constantly changing, and employees must be kept up to date on emerging threats and best practices. It's a good idea to run regular penetration tests - simulated phishing attacks - to assess vigilance and identify vulnerability gaps in your defences. Businesses should take the time to develop and enforce clear, concise cybersecurity policies that are based on their individual needs and easy to follow.

The final step is to have an incident response plan in place and ensure that employees know what to do - and how fast they need to do it - in the event of a cyber incident. Perhaps most importantly, employees need to be encouraged to report potential breaches or suspicious activity without fear of repercussions. Malware can go undetected within systems for significant periods of time, so it's crucial to get out in front of any potential threats. Fostering a culture of shared responsibility will ensure that employees feel supported and empowered.

Tools of the trade

The right toolkit will enable an organisation to create a powerful line of defence against cyber threats. Solutions might even need to be tailored to different roles or departments, depending on the specific threats they are likely to face.

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) makes it harder for malicious actors to gain access to your systems as it requires several steps to verify the user's identity. Password managers, meanwhile, can securely store login details for company accounts and even suggest strong, unique passwords. And, while it may seem simple, ensuring that all devices and software are regularly updated and patched will go a long way to protecting your business against emerging risks.

In addition, compliance with new and changing cybersecurity regulations such as NIS2 is becoming necessary for a growing number of businesses. Non-compliance can not only leave your organisation vulnerable to cyber threats, but can also have financial ramifications and create lasting reputational damage.

Effective cybersecurity goes beyond ensuring that systems are protected. It can also boost employee engagement, enhance customer trust, and increase productivity and efficiency within the business. Cybersecurity is constantly evolving and we will see a continuous flow of new threats to be grappled with - underscoring the importance of a security-first mindset for businesses. Ultimately, building a strong cybersecurity culture is all about the journey - not the destination.

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Gigi Supplements, TrakPro and Cyber Cert Labs have been named as Dublin regional winners at this year's InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition.

The three categories included Business-to-Business, Business-to-Consumer and Deep Tech.

TrakPro won in the B2B category, Gigi Supplements won in the B2C category, while Cyber Cert Labs won in the Deep Tech category. Each company received €50,000 and will advance to the All-Island final in Dublin on November 13th.

The InterTradeIreland Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition is the largest business competition of its kind on the island of Ireland, offering a total prize fund of €800,000 to promising start-ups and early-stage businesses. The Seedcorn competition offers start-up businesses the chance to win big without giving away an equity stake.

B2B Category

TrakPro is a B2B SaaS platform that streamlines subcontractor payment claims and commercial account management for the construction industry. The platform provides a centralised solution that automates compliance with payment legislation, integrates with construction ERP systems, and increases commercial team efficiency by 25%.

Colm Brennan, CEO and Co-Founder of TrakPro, said:

"We're absolutely delighted to have won the B2B category in the Dublin regional final of the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn competition. While I had the privilege of pitching, this achievement is truly a reflection of the entire TrakPro team's hard work, dedication and belief in our vision. The insights and guidance provided throughout the competition have been incredibly valuable as we prepare to embark on our pre-seed investment round."

Pictured are Alison Currie, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at InterTradeIreland, with Colm Brennan, CEO of Trak Pro

B2C Category

Gigi Supplements was founded by two registered Nutritional Therapists who specialise in female health. Together, they have a combined 12 years of experience working with clients in the nutrition space. They are passionate about empowering women to live happy and symptom-free at every stage of their reproductive lives and know just how impactful the right nutrients can be for female hormonal health.

Jennie Haire, Co-Founder & CEO of Gigi Supplements, said:

"Winning the InterTradeIreland Seedcorn regional finals means the world to us, and the incredible prize for the company is just the cherry on top. What started back in 2023 as a learning journey, where we reached the second round of the competition, to finally taking home the win today, is just the most incredible feeling. This has been the ultimate lesson in persistence. It's a competition like no other, and we've learned so much from it. We're proud and very grateful to have taken home this prize today. Third time lucky!"

Deep Tech Category

Cyber Cert Labs' mission is to revolutionise the way organisations approach cybersecurity by addressing end-to-end supply chain vulnerabilities. They develop software for digital product manufacturers, enabling them to embed cybersecurity into their development lifecycle. Their solutions also support businesses that purchase these products (e.g., IoT, OT, and software), ensuring secure operation as defined by the manufacturer.

Patricia Shields, CEO & Co-Founder of Cyber Cert Labs, said:

"We are so proud to be winners of the Dublin regional final in the Deep Tech category of the Seedcorn competition. It has been a wonderful experience and genuinely great preparation for Cyber Cert Labs as we go forward.. A massive thank you to InterTradeIreland for hosting the competition."

All companies emerged victorious from a group of six innovative start-ups and early-stage businesses representing Dublin. They also included Harcourt Building Technologies, Polliknow and A Slice of Life.

The regional final, held on October 22nd in Dublin, saw the finalists pitch their investment proposals to a panel of judges, including active investors. The Dublin regional winners will now compete for the ov...

IrishJobs has today published new data from its Hiring Trends Update, revealing that nearly 1 in 4 employers expect to increase hiring in 2026.

The IrishJobs Hiring Trends Update is a new biannual research report on the state of the recruitment market in Ireland. The research gathered insights from 500 employers and 1,000 professionals in Ireland on the evolving hiring landscape and shifting attitudes and actions across the market.

The research also includes data from OTT, an in-house tool developed by the Stepstone Group, the parent company of IrishJobs, which analyses online data on job postings and associated information.

In-demand skills

As employers continue to navigate a highly competitive market for demand, sourcing candidates with in-demand skills is a top challenge. Nearly 7 in 10 employers (69%) report struggling to recruit talent with the right skills. Technical skills, such as programming, data analysis and AI competencies, are the most highly sought-after skills by employers. 30% of employers are prioritising the recruitment of talent with technical skills.

28% of employers are looking to hire candidates with soft skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, and communication. 25% of employers say that recruiting candidates with leadership and people management skills is a top priority.

Pace of hiring

The tight talent landscape is impacting the length of time to successful hiring. The median time for successful hiring is 10 weeks, as employers continue to face challenges in sourcing the right candidates for key positions.

Findings show that recruiters are increasingly using AI tools and automation to reduce administrative burdens and streamline the hiring process. Nearly half of employers (47%) surveyed are using AI to draft job adverts. 35% of employers are using AI tools to help schedule interviews with job candidates.

Hiring landscape

There is a positive hiring outlook for 2026, with nearly 1 in 4 employers (24%) in Ireland planning on increasing recruitment over the next six months, indicating growing confidence among employers following a period of heightened geopolitical and trade volatility. Large enterprises have the most positive outlook on future hiring, with 27% of these firms expected to increase recruitment over the coming months.

Findings show that smaller firms are more cautious on potential growth, with 21% of SMEs forecasting an increase in hiring in 2026. 21% of employers plan on increasing spending on hiring for more specialist roles, while 19% expect to increase hiring for temporary roles and contractors.

33% of employers surveyed have increased their levels of recruitment since April 2025, according to the report findings. Large businesses were the most active in recruitment, with 35% of these firms hiring more staff over this period. Findings show that 31% of SMEs have increased hiring since April 2025. However, there are also signs of cooling in certain areas of the labour market. 24% of employers reported restructuring certain teams or departments within their organisation over the previous six months.

Increased jobseeker activity ahead

Despite elevated uncertainty, jobseeker activity has remained robust across the labour market, with 21% of candidates actively looking for a new job in September 2025. However, there are signs that greater stability may lead to increased activity in the months ahead. Findings show that 29% of candidates plan to look for a new job in 2026.

Salary is the top factor candidates consider when evaluating a new job and employer. Work-life balance is the second most important factor, with 31% of candidates considering it important when considering a new job.

There are also signs that international volatility is having a growing impact on the selection of employers by candidates, with 29% of candidates ranking job security as a crucial factor influencing selection. Flexibility is increasingly a baseline expectation for many job candidates. 71% of candidates woul...

Munster Technological University (MTU) has become the first Irish institution to take a direct role in the world's largest scientific experiment at CERN - the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, as part of a global effort to uncover the fundamental secrets of the universe.

The Government of Ireland confirmed that the country has become an Associate Member of CERN, with MTU now playing a leading role in the world's most powerful scientific machine, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Last year,

MTU became Ireland's first Technical Associate Institute to join the ATLAS Collaboration, one of the LHC's flagship experiments that helped discover the Higgs boson particle in 2012. Of the 246 organisations worldwide analysing CERN-ATLAS data, only 17 are Technical Associate Institutes, placing MTU among a select group of institutes worldwide.

MTU's contribution to CERN is focused on engineering critical systems for the ATLAS detector as it prepares for the upcoming "High-Luminosity" phase of the LHC. Senior Researcher Dr Manuel Caballero, MTU, and his team are building and testing the electrical panels and cables that will deliver power to the upgraded detectors, where every component must function to avoid disrupting experiments involving scientists across the world.

The first batch of patch panels was successfully delivered to CERN after stringent testing. These play a crucial role in routing data. Once installed, they cannot be easily accessed. Reliability and performance testing are therefore crucial.

While lecturer Paddy McGowan and his team at MTU are designing the delicate mechanical supports that will hold thousands of sensors, along with the cooling pipes and cables, all operating under extreme conditions deep underground. MTU is also contributing to the design of the core cooling system for these detectors.

Dr Niall Smith, Head of Research and CERN-ATLAS lead, MTU, who emphasises that this work is about more than engineering, said: "This is about giving Irish staff, students, and industry the chance to be part of one of humanity's greatest scientific quests." Dr. Seán McSweeney, Dean of Engineering, serves as the deputy lead, with support from the Nimbus Research Centre and the Department of Mechanical, Manufacturing and Biomedical Engineering.

ATLAS Spokesperson and CERN physicist Andreas Hoecker has said, "We are thrilled to welcome Munster Technological University to the international ATLAS Collaboration at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. MTU's innovative engineering expertise will be a tremendous asset as we prepare for the high-luminosity phase of the LHC. MTU is the first Irish research institution to join ATLAS, marking an exciting milestone."

Through this work, Irish engineers and researchers at MTU are helping build the tools that may one day explain dark matter, the origins of the universe, and why it exists. MTU's involvement is inspiring the next generation of Irish scientists and engineers to dream bigger than ever before. To know more, please visit: https://home.cern/.

Climb Channel Solutions Ireland, the specialist technology distributor, has announced survey findings which reveal that more than a quarter (28%) of AI/IT decision-makers in Ireland think AI will create jobs for their company

The research - conducted by Censuswide and involving 600 AI/IT decision-makers in large companies across Ireland, the UK and Germany - found that respondents in Ireland were the most positive about the impact of AI on their workplace (45%). In comparison, UK decision-makers were less positive (34%), with those in Germany even less so (26%).

Despite some caution across markets, more than half (56%) of all respondents would trust an AI agent to make routine decisions on their behalf at work. A similar proportion (53%) feel comfortable using generative AI in their role. Some 45% took this even further and said they could not do their job without AI.

That might explain why 55% of AI/IT decision-makers have increased their own use of AI in the workplace over the last 12 months. It might also explain why the same proportion (55%) report that their organisation is planning to scale current AI initiatives.

The study found that investment in AI is also on the rise, with some 52% of companies set to spend more this year compared to last. Positively, 55% of AI/IT decision-makers think their organisation has already gotten a return on investment with their AI spend.

However, it is not necessarily all about getting a return as 54% of respondents in Ireland revealed that employees in their company are encouraged to experiment with AI tools for activities such as prototyping, testing and ideation.

Brian Davis, VP of Sales for the UK & Ireland, Climb Channel Solutions Ireland, said: "It's clear that there is plenty of enthusiasm and positivity around the potential and impact of AI - particularly in Ireland, where experimentation with AI tools looks to be high on the agenda. Given that people see it as an enabler when it comes to doing their jobs and creating employment opportunities, it's no wonder that organisations are upping the AI ante.

"What remains to be seen however is the value that increased usage and investment will deliver, especially in the long-term. While companies can't look into the future and strategies need to remain agile, they can ensure that they are implementing policies and engaging partners today to support effective AI implementation and drive business success moving forward."

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