Irish firms are ramping up spending on AI agents as part of wider digital transformation strategies, according to a new PwC Ireland survey. The study reveals that 70% of organisations plan to increase AI-related budgets over the next year, compared with 88% in the US. Despite growing interest, only 9% report broad adoption, with 83% still exploring or piloting the technology.

The survey shows that early productivity gains are already visible, although only 38% of businesses say these gains have translated into cost savings. Operational and support functions remain the primary focus for Irish organisations, while US firms leverage AI agents more widely across strategic and innovation-driven roles.

PwC experts emphasise that Irish businesses are taking a cautious, measured approach, experimenting with AI agents to build trust and ensure effective integration before scaling up. Only 7% of respondents expressed high trust in AI across multiple functions, and none trust AI agents to manage financial transactions. Data management and legacy system integration were cited as key barriers to wider adoption, affecting 40% and 36% of respondents respectively.

Despite these hurdles, 54% of business leaders expect AI agents to provide a competitive advantage within the year, though only 29% anticipate significant changes to their operating models in the next two years. Limited use for innovation or new revenue streams was reported, with just 16% noting profitability improvements and 4% citing new revenue generation.

David Lee, Chief Technology Officer at PwC Ireland, concluded that organisations are at a pivotal stage. As productivity benefits become evident, AI adoption is expected to extend beyond core functions into new product development, strategic decision-making, and innovation initiatives.

Explore the full survey insights and strategic implications for Irish firms in the complete story.