AI Adoption in Ireland: 20% of Enterprises Now Using AI

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AI Adoption Surges Among Irish Businesses, Reaching 20% in 2025

A growing number of Irish enterprises are embracing artificial intelligence (AI), with adoption rates climbing to 20% in 2025 – a five percentage point increase from the previous year, according to new data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). The findings, part of the broader Data Society Statistics report, reveal significant trends in digitalization across Irish businesses, encompassing not only AI but also internet speeds, energy consumption, and e-commerce activity.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of how Irish businesses are leveraging information and dialog technologies (ICT). According to the CSO, the most prevalent applications of AI in 2025 were data mining (utilized by 11% of enterprises) and natural language generation.

A notable disparity exists between large and small enterprises regarding AI implementation. Over half (58%) of large enterprises reported using AI,with 35% specifically employing it for data mining and 29% for automating workflows or aiding in decision-making. In contrast, just over 17% of small enterprises have integrated AI into their operations.

AI Adoption – In 2025, 20% of Irish businesses are using AI, up from 15% the previous year. Large enterprises lead adoption at 58%, while 17% of small businesses have integrated AI.

Broadband Speeds: A Divide Between Enterprise Sizes

The study also highlighted a significant gap in broadband speeds available to businesses of different sizes. Nearly six in ten (59%) large enterprises benefit from fixed broadband speeds of at least 500 Mbps, compared to only 35% of small enterprises. Ireland’s broadband landscape in 2025 is varied: 22% of enterprises have speeds below 100 Mbps, 26% fall between 100 and 500 Mbps, and 38% enjoy speeds exceeding 500 Mbps.

Broadband Access – 59% of large enterprises have broadband speeds of 500 Mbps or higher, compared to 35% of small enterprises. 22% of all businesses have speeds below 100 Mbps.

ICT and Sustainability: Reducing Energy Consumption

Beyond connectivity, the report examined the role of ICT in promoting sustainability. More than a quarter (27%) of Irish enterprises are now utilizing ICT systems and solutions to reduce energy consumption. This practice is particularly widespread among larger companies, with 66% of large enterprises actively employing such technologies, compared to 22% of their smaller counterparts.

Energy Reduction – 27% of Irish businesses use ICT to reduce energy consumption.this practice is most common among large enterprises, with 66% actively employing related technologies.

E-Commerce Growth Across All Sectors

Internet sales continue to grow in Ireland, with varying levels of adoption across different enterprise sizes. Over one-third (35%) of small enterprises (employing 10-49 people) engage in online sales, rising to 50% for medium-sized enterprises (50-249 employees) and 54% for large enterprises (250+ employees).

Online Sales – 35% of small Irish businesses engage in e-commerce, increasing to 50% for medium-sized and 54% for large enterprises.

Data Analytics and Cloud Computing on the Rise

The CSO data also revealed increasing reliance on data analytics and cloud-based email. In 2025, more than a quarter (28%) of enterprises performed data analytics using transaction records, while 23% utilized customer information for analytical purposes. Furthermore, almost two-thirds (64%) of enterprises now use cloud-based email, a significant increase from 52% in 2023.

Cloud & Data – 64% of Irish businesses use cloud-based email,up from 52% in 2023. Over a quarter (28%) perform data analytics