By Business & Finance 
Pictured: Attendees of the AI roundtable.
Business leaders from across various industries convened the morning of Friday, 19th September, in KPMG Platform X to discuss the impact of AI in business and broader society.
A leaders’ forum centred on the future of AI in business and society was chaired last Friday, 19th September, by Ian Hyland, President of Ireland INC and President and Publisher of Business & Finance, and included participation from over thirty business leaders including Rory Timlin and Tom Woods from KPMG, alongside Matt Kennedy, IDA, Aengus Waters, NBI, Giovanni Crispino, Salesforce, Sandra Healy, Inclusio, and more.
It is no secret that AI is firmly on the agenda of boardrooms and governments, and on the minds of policy makers across the European Union. Leaders the breadth of the business sector see an obvious potential, impact and competitive risk of not engaging with AI’s ability to streamline processes and enhance productivity, and that is to say nothing of the potential for sector-specific applications.
Adapting Now
During the conversation, it was acknowledged that, while AI has entered the business lexicon in the last two years, it has been an area of study for decades. However, AI has moved from the realm of speculation to tangible reality – the top of the agenda for every boardroom and business practitioner across Ireland. While discussions often touch on hype, the prevailing consensus among leaders is that the real question is not whether AI is valuable, but how and when to capture that value.
Value Across Sectors
AI adoption in Ireland spans a multitude of industries, including technology, engineering, life sciences, agriculture, financial services, and aviation.
Leaders spoke about how early adopters report substantial productivity gains, while legacy organisations face challenges due to existing processes and constraints.
Early adoption is critical, and firms are exploring AI applications that extend beyond individual productivity to optimise entire value chains. This can involve reshaping processes, reassigning roles, and using AI agents to automate or enhance workflows.
Agriculture demonstrates a different challenge: inconsistent data and environmental variability mean adoption is slower.
Engineering is a field adopting AI very quickly, and it is where the capabilities are strongest. It was stated during the conversation that it can get to 75% of what a software engineer can do. This time last year it was 20%. It was suggested that it was like having an AI employee on your engineering team.
To capture broader value, companies need to understand their value chains, work back from customer needs, and adjust processes and workforce composition accordingly.
People, Culture, and Workforce Readiness
The human dimension is as critical as the technological. Workforce readiness, organisational culture, and change management determine successful adoption.
While in previous years the responsibility to upskill in new technology would have been the reserve of middle-management, c-suite executives are now training up in AI. All staff increasingly participate in AI-focused programmes, learning to integrate the technology responsibly and reshape workflows. Cultural adaptation is a facet of AI adoption of which companies should be aware.
In many industries, work that would have taken a few days now takes a few minutes. In sectors such as financial services, law, and engineering, AI adoption is particularly transformative, reshaping traditional roles and enabling new ways of delivering value.
Infrastructure
A robust infrastructure is critical for AI adoption, and Ireland’s data centres, energy grid, and research facilities must scale to support growing demand.
The integration of renewable energy, including offshore wind, is vital for powering digitalisation.
Talent pipelines are equally important, it was said. While in years past, the focus might have been on tax, it is now on talent: from undergraduates to postdoctoral researchers, Ireland must ensure a skilled workforce capable of leveraging AI across sectors.
Regulation is another key consideration. The EU AI Act provides consumer protection and governance, but some provisions risk being overly prescriptive. Non-EU competitors are not bound by the same rules, potentially providing them with an adaptation and cost advantage.
The challenge is to balance regulation and innovation, Ireland can remain competitive while safeguarding trust and security, and consumer rights. With strong infrastructure, Ireland has an opportunity to position itself as a hub for responsible AI adoption.
Convening Power
Rory Timlin, KPMG, spoke about the power of convening leaders on the subject of AI: “Convening leaders around AI is particularly valuable because it is a multidisciplinary field. Sharing perspectives, surfacing common challenges, and exploring collaboration across the ecosystem helps us collectively solve problems and seize opportunities.”
KPMG Ireland continues to assist companies with the pace and scope of AI adoption.
Business & Finance Awards
As AI continues to evolve, the Business & Finance Awards Program will continue to recognise companies who pivot, lead, and excel with this change and many others taking place in today’s business landscape.
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in attendance and honoured with the Sutherland Leadership Award. Loretta Brennan Glucksman will also be honoured with the TK Whitaker Award in acknowledgement of her incredible contribution and philanthropic efforts helping Irish Americans.
For more information, please visit https://businessandfinanceawards.com/
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