Almost a third (30%) of adults in Ireland say they currently have an idea for a business or product they would like to pursue, according to new research commissioned by the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs).

The findings were released today as Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., joined the Local Enterprise Offices to launch Local Enterprise Week 2026, which starts tomorrow, Monday 2nd March, with more than 330 events happening across the week to support aspiring and established entrepreneurs.

Among those with a business idea, 40% say it came to them at home. Others found inspiration while talking to friends or family (15%), at work (15%), in bed (10%), during their commute (7%), while exercising (5%), or even in the shower (4%).

Younger adults appear particularly entrepreneurial, with 52% of under-35s saying they currently have a business idea, compared to just 18% of those aged 55 and over.

Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke T.D., said: "Small businesses are the backbone of Ireland's economy, and this research confirms the level of ambition that exists right across the country. People have seen the incredible and innovative businesses that have started and grown internationally from Ireland, and that has clearly given them the ambition to start themselves.

"Our goal is to ensure that the right supports are in place to help people turn their ambitions into reality. Local Enterprise Week demonstrates what that support looks like in action through expert advice, practical tools and tailored programmes which are available to every entrepreneur, in every region."

Each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices is hosting events throughout the week, covering topics such as funding opportunities, how to use AI in business, boosting productivity and trading internationally.

Highlights across the week include:

— AI training events with Google

— A special innovation event with Microsoft as part of the Student Enterprise Programme

— Live pitch competitions and business networking events

— Local celebrations of International Women's Day, featuring some of Ireland's most inspiring businesswomen

— Appearances from entrepreneurs and experts, including Eoin McGee, Eddie Wilson of Ryanair, Niall Horgan of Gym+Coffee, Bobby Kerr, Kellie Harrington, and Derval O'Rourke

Alan Dillon T.D., Minister of State for Employment, Small Business and Retail, "Local Enterprise Week is a flagship event for the business community across the country. An opportunity to meet, share ideas, solve problems, and most of all look at ways to improve your business. There is no better chance during the year to meet with a local community that wants to help you grow your business and can show you where solutions and opportunities lie.

"The week is an opportunity for businesses to reflect on where they are and where they want to go, and Local Enterprise Week provides a pathway to do that. With experts across every business field and talks from inspirational entrepreneurs and businesspeople who have walked the road, it's a brilliant week for business in Ireland."

Niamh Smyth, T.D., Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Digital Transformation, said;

"Local Enterprise Week is always a great barometer of the challenges and opportunities that exist for businesses across the country. Since Local Enterprise Week 2025, we have seen technology continue to evolve. AI can have a real positive impact on businesses, and we want to ensure small businesses are able to reap its rewards. This week is the perfect time for businesses to learn more about the support that is available to help them digitalise.

I encourage small businesses across the country to use this week to explore the resources available to them. The LEOs have been to the fore in helping to digitise small businesses, and Local Enterprise Week is the best opportunity to take that first step."

Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise ...

Almost one in five of Ireland's top companies have experienced significant cyber attacks in the last two years, new data shows today.

The findings come as national domain registry .IE launches Ireland's first Digital Trust Mark.

Described as an NCT for your online identity, websites and emails carrying the distinctive wolfhound symbol will give customers confidence that businesses of all sizes are operating to the highest digital standards.

"If you have an online presence, you can now be assessed on DigitalTrust.ie in just a few clicks," said Louise McKeown Doogan, Chief Growth Officer at .IE.

"Once an organisation applies, their website, email and domain setup is assessed using a proprietary scoring evaluation that checks against industry-defined best practice.

"These checks confirm that digital fundamentals are correctly configured, responsibly managed and set up to support trust and reliability online.

"Once you receive your Digital Trust Score, you will either be entitled to carry the mark or you will have clear next steps to reach the required standard.

"We live in an age where some ransomware companies now have customer care departments, and the online health of the nation needs to improve as a consequence."

The research found that 17pc of Ireland's key organisations have experienced a significant cyber attack since 2024.

Conducted by Amárach on behalf of .IE, it surveyed 354 essential Irish firms in January.

It follows last week's Garda data that fraud-related crimes more than doubled in the last 12 months, up 137pc – mainly due to bank scams, phishing and smishing.

"Our findings are concerning, particularly when we know phishing scams (60pc) and the exploitation of system weaknesses (21.3pc) are the most common ways attackers gain access," said Ms McKeown Doogan.

"An online presence that appears to function may not always demonstrate the authenticity and trustworthiness customers expect.

"Until now there has been no visible way for consumers to know that a website meets a recognised standard – and no way for businesses or organisations to signal that they do.

"The mark signals that they demonstrate authenticity, responsible digital practice and a trustworthy online experience.

"We hope it will become a digital equivalent of the NCT and an essential part of interacting online in Ireland within the next year."

The Digital Trust Mark is not just for .ie domains but is open to .com and other domains used by Irish organisations.

Applicants will receive a grade by the next working day, and if an A-rating is achieved, businesses can display the mark on their website or in their email signature for the following 12 months.

Domains that do not reach an A-rating will be given a detailed outline of what and how they can improve.

See digitaltrust.ie for more information.

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A gathering of 20+ national experts in the field of physics took place in Waterford this morning at Walton Institute, SETU, for a workshop on the theme of CERN – the European Organisation for Nuclear Research. CERN is an intergovernmental organisation based near Geneva that uses the world's largest and most complex scientific instruments to probe the fundamental structure of the particles that make up everything around us.

Today's coming-together is a follow-on from last February's high-level visit to CERN in Geneva led by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, who was joined by the same specialist delegation of Irish leaders in the field of physics. The Irish delegates' visit to meet senior CERN officials helped to build relationships that aided in achieving Ireland's long-term goal of joining CERN as an Associate Member State in October 2025.

This achievement marked a major milestone for Irish science, strengthening research opportunities in fields such as medical applications, computing and particle physics. The status facilitates deeper participation in high-energy physics research for Irish scientists and also enables Irish companies to bid for contracts.

Progressing plans for the national scientific community

Today at Walton Institute, the delegation came back together to share updates, discuss objectives, ideas, and outline strategies for Ireland to assume a significant role in CERN engagement. Delegates were in Waterford to attend the Institute of Physics Spring Conference later on Friday and Saturday, where the focus of the annual conference would also be CERN-themed, and the opportunities for Ireland's scientific community.

A representative of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Lola Hourihane, joined SETU President Prof. Veronica Campbell, along with Directors of Walton Institute Dr Kevin Doolin and Dr Deirdre Kilbane, representative of Research Ireland Dr Aisling McEvoy, as well as national experts Prof. Sinéad Ryan, Prof. of High Energy Physics at Trinity College Dublin and Prof. Ronan McNulty, Particle Physicist Professor at UCD.

Upon welcoming delegates to today's CERN-engagement workshop at Walton Institute, SETU President Veronica Campbell said:

"Ireland's Associate Membership of CERN is a game-changer for research and innovation in this country, and SETU is very proud to play an active role in shaping this new chapter. Under the leadership of Dr Deirdre Kilbane and her team at the Walton Institute, we are committed to fostering collaboration, driving cutting?edge research, and ensuring Ireland fully maximises the opportunities that membership brings. With the calibre of leadership and research talent gathered here today, I am confident that we are at the beginning of a very exciting journey of discovery, collaboration, and reputational growth."

On hosting the workshop, Director of Research at Walton Institute Dr Deirdre Kilbane said: "It is a wonderful occasion that the Institute of Physics Spring Conference is being held here in Waterford, and very exciting that we are progressing opportunities for the Irish scientific community as an official Associate Member State of CERN."

In attendance, Prof. Ronan McNulty, Particle Physicist Professor at UCD, said: "Having joined CERN, there are now fantastic opportunities available for Irish scientists, engineers and companies to collaborate with CERN on projects that are at the cutting-edge of science and technology."

After the CERN-engagement workshop at Walton Institute, the delegation travelled to the nearby Tower Hotel in Waterford city, where SETU hosted the Institute of Physics Spring Conference as the 2026 university partner.

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Dell Technologies introduces the Dell PowerEdge XR9700 server, a first-of-its-kind closed-loop liquid-cooled, fully-enclosed, ruggedised server engineered to run Cloud RAN and edge AI workloads in unprotected outdoor environments. Designed to mount on utility poles, rooftops and building exteriors, the PowerEdge XR9700 brings high-performance computing into dense urban areas, remote locations, and space-constrained facilities where traditional data centre infrastructure cannot reach.

Why it matters

Telecommunications operators and those working at the edge often struggle to deploy compute due to a lack of power and space. The PowerEdge XR9700 solves this, delivering high-performance compute directly at the point of need in an ultra-compact, zero-footprint IP66-rated enclosure that's sealed from the elements. For telecommunications operators, it provides a flexible, software-defined alternative to traditional RAN solutions, supporting Cloud RAN and Open RAN processing at the cell site. At the same time, the platform can run edge and AI applications directly where data is created and consumed.

Built for Extreme Conditions

Designed to withstand the harshest environments, this platform's ultra-compact IP66-rated enclosure and GR-3108 Class 4 certification delivers reliable, quiet performance in environments exposed to extreme temperatures, dust, and moisture.

Closed-loop liquid cooling with a thermal management architecture maintains consistent operation across a temperature range of -40°C to 46°C (-40°F to 115°F) and withstands direct solar radiation, all in a compact 15-litre form factor suitable for mounting on utility poles, rooftops and building sides. This zero-footprint design brings telecom and edge workloads to locations where only traditional radio solutions could previously operate.

Performance that Scales

Powered by the Intel Xeon 6 SoC with integrated Intel vRAN Boost technology and Intel AMX technology, the PowerEdge XR9700 delivers the processing power and fronthaul connectivity to support up to 15 5G sectors in a single server. While optimised for Cloud RAN, the platform's flexibility allows operators to run edge and AI workloads based on network architecture and service requirements.

As part of the Dell PowerEdge XR-Series, the XR9700 integrates with Dell's existing management tools and software stack. Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) provides remote visibility and control for zero-touch provisioning (ZTP), while compatibility with the same Cloud RAN software validated on the PowerEdge XR8720t simplifies certification and accelerates telecom deployments.

Andrew Vaz, vice president, Dell Technologies: "Operators and enterprises shouldn't have to compromise when deploying compute in challenging environments. The Dell PowerEdge XR9700 brings Cloud RAN, Open RAN, and edge AI capabilities to places they've never been able to go before, opening up new possibilities for network expansion and edge applications."

Cristina Rodriguez, VP and General Manager, Intel Network & Edge, said: "Intel Xeon 6 SoC processors are built to deliver market-leading performance with breakthrough power- and space-efficiency. Through long-standing collaboration with Dell – including the newest PowerEdge servers – together, we're empowering operators and enterprises alike to access the power of open, virtualised, and AI-driven innovations for their most challenging environments. This represents a significant step forward in making 5G and edge computing truly ubiquitous."

Rakuten Mobile, as one of the launch customers, will deploy the Dell PowerEdge across its nationwide mobile network in Japan.

Sudhakar Pandney, Head of RAN, Rakuten Mobile, said: "The relationship with Dell Technologies is key for Rakuten Mobile's virtualised Open RAN cloud-native infrastructure in Japan. Their new server solution will significantly enhance the efficiency and performance of our high-performance Cloud RAN and AI capabilities, particularly in c...

We look at The Emperor of All Maladies, A biography of cancer, by Siddhartha Mukherjee, see more about the book here.

The Emperor of All Maladies, A biography of cancer, reviewed

Originally published in 2011, this updated version came out in 2025 with another 100 pages added to cover developments and new insights learned in the last 15 to 20 years. This book by Siddhartha Mukherjee is a labour of love, passion, sadness, frustration and rapidly, scrambling, evolving wisdom too. Cancer has risen over the centuries in terms of it's ranking for the number of people it has killed. Once barely in the top ten, over time this has risen only higher and higher. In some ways this is a demonstration of humanity's success in removing the mortality impact of other diseases which used to kill many more people. TB, dysentery, cholera, malaria, small pox and many other lethal diseases now kill less people due to improvements in sanitation, water quality and immunisation programs. Therefore, in one respect cancer is an indication of humanity's progress, and also increasing longevity.

Previously many people had cancer, but died of other illnesses. Now, as we live longer, cancer has more time to grow, spread and become a greater killer. As Mukherjee is quick to highlight however, things are not quite that simple. As well as longevity enabling some cancers to come to the fore, there are other types of cancer emerging, which were not prevalent before. As we tug at the string from the complex ball of causes, triggers, environmental factors, it quickly becomes clear that cancer, while one word, covers a multitude of different types of cell mutation, attacks to the body, and types of progression. Mukherjee often expresses sadness and frustration at the number of times, as a practising cancer doctor, as well as a great documenter of the wider field, that he has had to answer patient's questions with a reluctant, we don't know why…

This book is well written as it takes the general reader on a journey with someone who has been close to the bleeding edge of innovations and developments. At the same time, there have also been periods of stagnation, interesting insights ridiculed by the wider community, or connections supposed, but without the tools to confirm theoretical breakthroughs. In this way cancer treatment has evolved in a stop start way. Declaring war on cancer, as Nixon did in the 70s was always going to be problematic approach. There have been some fantastic breakthroughs for some types of cancer, for some types of people. Some have then gone into remission for decades, and lived out longer lives than could have been hoped for. In other cases there have been temporary improvements, sometimes for three to nine months, before the symptoms return again, oftentimes causing the death of the patient.

As Mukherjee is only too aware, especially with the early forms of treatment, while the cure might have been a success, the survival of the patient was not always the case. Chemo was, and can still be, brutally harsh on the patient, treatments have improved, but it can radically vary depending on which type of cancer is being treated. Mukherjee also points out some interesting thought experiments in terms of identical twins, who take different paths in terms of dealing with breast cancer. These quickly point out some of the absurdities, or at least challenges when calculating mortality and cancer survival, or rather extended life expectancy, before succumbing to the disease. All of this is important and thought provoking. With a close family member who has survived two different types of cancer, and is now battling a third one, a book like this can helpful in a variety of ways.

In the conclusion to his book Mukherjee points out that, as cancer rates more beyond one in three, towards one in two, in is probably a case of when, not if. Therefore how we look at cancer, understand it, and approach it, will only become more and more important for all of us a...

Epomaker have sent us their HE68 Lite keyboard to take a look at, and we have been putting it through its paces both for office and gaming use over the last couple of weeks.

What's in the Box?

Inside the box, along with the keyboard, you get:

A pack of Screws and Extra Switches

A hand strap, the strap's accessories and a screwdriver

1 x USB A to C Cable

A 2-in-1 Keycap-and-Switch Puller

1 x Multilingual Manual

HE68 Lite Keyboard Design and Features

The HE68 Lite is a compact 65% size keyboard, utilising a 68 key layout. In hand and in use, it is clear this keyboard is exceptionally well made given its relatively low price. It is also packed full of features that you would expect to find in more expensive gaming keyboards.

Some of those featured include:

Hall Effect (Magnetic) Switches – Contactless magnetic sensing for improved durability and precision.

Adjustable Actuation – Fine-tune actuation points with extremely precise adjustment (down to 0.01 mm).

Rapid Trigger Support – Ultra-fast reset and re-actuation for competitive gaming.

High Polling Rate (Up to 8000Hz) – Very low latency input performance.

Advanced Gaming Features – Includes Snap Tap (SOCD cleaning) and Dynamic Keystroke functions.

Per-Key RGB Backlighting – Customisable lighting effects with shine-through keycaps.

Multi-Layer Sound Dampening – Designed for a quieter, more refined typing sound.

Wired USB-C Connection – Stable, low-latency wired operation (no wireless modes).

Lightweight Build (~650g) – Portable and easy to reposition.

The key strokes are super smooth, very quiet, but still have a satisfying click at the end of travel. The package comes with tools to replace keys should you need to in the future, and how the key performs can be adjusted via downloadable software for Windows and Mac. Each key is also backlit with programmable RGB lighting, which is really well implemented. The colours are vibrant but never distracting.

We connected the keyboard to multiple different desktop systems as well as gaming consoles such as Xbox, and the HE68 Lite performed great.

Software

The software, which you can download for both Windows and Mac, is comprehensive. It is nice to see a Mac version available, as it is often overlooked for things like this. If you need to use the keyboard with a system other than these two operating systems, the keyboard retains its settings once set up with the software on a compatible system.

Some of the HE68 Lite features available:

Custom Keys

Magnetic Switch Settings

Advanced Key Settings

Keyboard Report Rate

Custom Key Settings

Light Effect Settings

Community Share for Keyboard Settings

Conclusion

We have been very impressed with the Epomaker HE68 Lite since receiving it. The keyboard is very well made, performs really well and is packed full of features you would expect to find in more expensive units. The software that comes with it is comprehensive and allows you to adjust all of the functions exactly to your liking.

It's an easy recommendation at its price. It is a great place to start if you are looking to pick up a mechanical keyboard, and it is also a reasonably priced gift idea for any gamers that you know. You can find out more about the keyboard on the Epomaker site. The keyboard is also available to purchase from both Amazon and AliExpress.

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has received a Laureate Award at the Great Place to Work Ireland Awards 2026. The company was recognised for achieving Best Workplace status for 10 consecutive years.

In addition, Esri Ireland ranked in 4th place on the Best Mid-Sized Workplaces in Ireland list for 2026. The company received the accolade at the 24th annual Great Place to Work Ireland Awards, which took place during a gala ceremony at the Clayton Hotel Burlington Road in Dublin.

The awards programme is based on direct feedback from employees about the workplace experience. Esri Ireland is committed to making the company a great place to work and prioritises enhanced employee opportunities, support, and a sense of belonging that keep its people engaged and connected.

Joanne McLaughlin, Head of Marketing, Esri Ireland, said: "10 years ago, we believed Esri Ireland was already a great place to work, and our annual Trust Surveys have confirmed it. Since joining the Great Place to Work programme, we have more than doubled our employees and our company growth. For us, our Best Workplace culture and our organisational success go hand in hand. Over the last decade, we have endeavoured to deliver an exceptional workplace experience for our people, while championing employee voices within the company. This milestone is a proud moment for our employees, past and present, and one we're thrilled to celebrate together.

"It is also an honour to be ranked in the top five among Ireland's best mid-sized organisations. At Esri Ireland, retention is not accidental; it's intentional. By combining authentic storytelling, recognition, and continuous improvement, we've built a workplace where people want to stay and succeed."

See more stories here.

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The Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) yesterday hosted an AV Room briefing for Members of the Oireachtas focused on the growing role of artificial intelligence in the music sector. The presentation highlighted the importance of the music industry to the Irish economy and the potential for AI to be a powerful and transformative tool for creativity and growth, while warning that without safeguards and enforcement of laws governing its usage, its misuse poses serious risks to artists, consumers and the wider economy.

The average adult in Ireland spends close to €800 per year on music across streaming, physical formats, merchandise and live events. This economic activity sustains thousands of jobs across live performance, production, hospitality and the wider night-time sector and provides €1 billion to the Irish economy.

IRMA emphasised that AI is a permanent feature of the technological landscape and that the industry is keen to approach AI in a constructive manner. However, where copyrighted works are used without consent or compensation, the consequences for artists and the wider economy are serious.

To demonstrate the sophistication and accessibility of current tools, with the panel shared a live deepfake example: a digitally generated version of Wicklow-Wexford TD Malcolm Byrne (made with his prior consent). The demonstration highlighted the potential misuse of such technology in both the music industry and political life, and the possibilities of its ethical and lawful use.

IRMA called on legislators to ensure:

Full and robust enforcement of copyright and intellectual property law

Clear rules governing the lawful use of copyrighted works in AI training

Transparency and accountability from AI developers

A commercial licensing market that guarantees fair remuneration for creators.

IRMA head of Public Affairs and Communications, David Kitching, said:

"Irish music is a global success story, with real social, cultural and economic value.. AI has the potential to create new opportunities, but it must operate within a framework that respects the law and values human creativity."

He added:

"If we fail to enforce copyright protections in the AI era, we risk undermining a sector worth €1 billion annually and the thousands of livelihoods it supports. Legislators have a critical role in ensuring innovation and creativity can thrive side by side."

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.

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With the pace of change in the technology sector, women must push for ongoing learning and development opportunities, urges tech leader Gillian Whelan, who believes women can sometimes be less vocal when asking for support that goes beyond the day-to-day or expecting investment in themselves as employees.

Whelan, who is Managing Director and Country Manager at international IT and business consultancy emagine's operation in Ireland, says ongoing learning and personal development are essential to progress in the tech sector and that women need to push out of their comfort zones to move up the career ladder.

Whelan says: "Every career benefits from structured development programmes, but not all employers offer this without pressure from their employees. The technology sector moves at a faster pace than many others, which means that keeping ahead is crucial for progression. In my experience, women can sometimes be less pushy when it comes to asking for this kind of support, but if we are to address the gender imbalance in this sector, then this needs to change.

"Tech is still largely dominated by men, but I have found this is not just because of biased recruitment practises, but often because there is a larger pool of male candidates for tech roles. So, there should be a real opportunity for women to stand out, and a CV full of seized development opportunities will certainly help.

"Development is important at all levels and particularly in the early career stages as professionals look to make their mark and find their niche. They're also likely to be up against a higher number of candidates when looking for new roles."

Whelan adds that with a looming tech skills gap, it is the young, early years professionals, both male and female, who are the future and should be getting the support they need to prepare themselves. With businesses vying for the limited tech skills available in Ireland, this is an opportunity for supportive employers.

Whelan, who was instrumental in developing the training programme at emagine before becoming MD, explains: "An employer who offers structured development plans with a series of micro-credentials and certifications will undoubtedly attract and retain the best employees because they will feel valued, driven and like they are constantly learning and so don't need to move on to find new work experiences.

"Women should be looking for this sort of offering from an employer, especially if they feel less confident fighting for investment in their skills. Nonetheless, women must keep constantly working on themselves, their skills, confidence and attitude to risk-taking."

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.

ServiceNow, the AI control tower for business reinvention, today launched Autonomous Workforce, AI specialists that can execute jobs with the scope, authority, and governance required for enterprise work – freeing people to focus on strategic problem solving and personalised service. Just two months after the Moveworks acquisition close, the company also introduced ServiceNow EmployeeWorks, which combines Moveworks' conversational AI and enterprise search with ServiceNow's unified portal and autonomous workflows to turn natural language requests into governed, end-to-end execution for nearly 200 million employees.

As enterprises evaluate AI platforms, two competing paradigms have emerged: feature-function AI bolted onto disconnected SaaS apps, and unified platforms that execute work through proven enterprise workflows with AI built in. The difference is fundamental: the feature approach requires enterprises to maintain, integrate, and manage the complexity themselves. ServiceNow eliminates the complexity by unifying conversational AI, workflows, enterprise data, security, and governance on a platform purpose-built for mission-critical operations.

"Businesses don't need more pilots or promises. They need AI that gets work done," said Amit Zavery, president, chief product officer, and chief operating officer, ServiceNow. "The leaders realising value from AI are investing in platforms where intelligence, execution, and trust work as one system. Our platform was purpose-built for this moment. Autonomous Workforce augments human teams with AI specialists that operate with the scope, authority, and governance enterprise work demands. This is a new era of productivity and ROI, at scale."

Autonomous Workforce: AI teammates execute jobs in partnership with people

ServiceNow's Autonomous Workforce deploys AI specialists with defined roles to augment teams.

Unlike AI agents that complete individual tasks, the ServiceNow Autonomous Workforce orchestrates teams of AI specialists with roles such as a Level 1 Service Desk AI Specialist, Employee Service Agent, or Security Operations Analyst to execute work from start to finish. They work alongside humans, follow established processes and policies set by the organisation, learn from outcomes and employee feedback, and importantly, improve over time.

Today, ServiceNow is introducing the first AI specialist available out-of-the-box for customers, a Level 1 Service Desk AI Specialist. This AI specialist autonomously diagnoses and resolves common IT support requests end-to-end — password resets, software access provisioning, network troubleshooting — using enterprise knowledge bases, historical incident data, and proactive remediation workflows. It is designed to operate 24/7 with assignments aligned to specific skillsets and deliverables and escalate issues when human intervention is needed.

ServiceNow's Autonomous Workforce is handling 90%+ of employee IT requests. Early results show our newest AI specialist, the L1 Service Desk AI Specialist, is already resolving assigned IT cases autonomously, and it's 99% faster than when these cases are handled by human agents.

AI models without workflows are probabilistic — they see patterns, form ideas, and give different answers for the same questions. The enterprise, however, needs deterministic outcomes — governance, security, auditability, and operations that don't hallucinate. Because ServiceNow combines probabilistic intelligence with deterministic workflow orchestration, AI specialists can interpret a request, decide the right action using business context, and execute autonomously across systems with governance built in through the ServiceNow AI Control Tower. Every action is traceable and governed by policies embedded in the workflow layer itself.

ServiceNow EmployeeWorks: Consumer AI experiences meet enterprise-grade execution

ServiceNow is bringing the power of Moveworks to the ServiceNow AI Platform and delivering immediate value to custome...