Over 50% of large enterprises in Ireland used AI in 2024

Kenneth Fox

More than half of large enterprises in Ireland (51 per cent) used AI in 2024, with 30 per cent using it for automated workflows or decision-making and 28 per cent for data mining.

New figures from Central Statistics Office (CSO), found more than 15 per cent of all enterprises regardless of size used Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2024.

In 2024, 57 per cent of large enterprises had broadband with a speed of at least 500 Mbps.

Almost one-fifth (24 per cent) of enterprises targeted advertising based on users' web content or searches.

For small enterprises (between 10 and 49 people employed), 38 per cent had internet sales, compared with 51 per cent of medium enterprises (between 50 and 249 people employed), and 54 per cent of large enterprises.

More than one in ten (12 per cent) of enterprises had a security incident leading to the temporary unavailability of ICT services in 2024.

Commenting on the release, Devin Zibulsky, statistician in the enterprise statistics division, said: "The Information Society Statistics - Enterprises (ISSE) 2024 results show the extent of digitalisation among Irish businesses.

"By surveying enterprises about a range of areas including internet access and use, e-commerce, ICT security, and artificial intelligence, the ISSE release gives a broad picture of the ways in which Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is used in business practices.

"Topics and items covered by the survey can change from year to year to reflect the development and emergence of new technologies and their role in business."

They said the 2024 results reflect the continued increase in the online presence among enterprises in Ireland and their use of data and technology.

New modules are introduced each year and modules that have not been included may be re-introduced in future years..

Internet Access and Usage

There was a wide range of fixed broadband speeds in Ireland in 2024, with 25 per cent of enterprises having less than 100 Mbps, 27 per cent having between 100 and 500 Mbps, and 34 per cent having broadband faster than 500 Mbps.

More than four in ten (43 per cent) enterprises paid to advertise on the internet in 2024, with nearly one-quarter (24 per cent) using targeted advertising based on webpage content or users’ keyword searches.

ICT Security

One-third (33 per cent) of enterprises offered voluntary ICT security training, one in four (25 per cent) made ICT security training compulsory, while 35 per cent included ICT security training as a contractual requirement of employment.

In 2024, 12 per cent of enterprises experienced an unavailability of ICT services from either an unintentional cause or an intentional.