Ireland’s economy could add €45 billion over the next decade if companies fully adopt artificial intelligence, according to research commissioned by Google. The data reveals a significant divide between ambition and execution among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where only 6% currently treat AI as a core operational priority—though that share is projected to climb to 15% within three years.
The projected 8% rise in national output depends on productivity improvements across two-thirds of the workforce. Yet most Irish SMEs are struggling to keep up. While 80% of business leaders view AI as a beneficial development, only 37% report regular use. Over half already feel they are losing ground to competitors.
Google and Bank of Ireland are closing this gap with a new program offering up to 10,000 free licenses for the Google AI Professional Certificate, designed to equip SMEs with practical skills. This move comes as Ireland’s AI adoption remains at European Union averages, lagging behind Northern European leaders such as Denmark, Finland, and Belgium.
Key obstacles include skill shortages, cost concerns, and fear of errors. Karen Stolberg, Google’s Vice President of Customer Solutions for the UK and Ireland, explains that hesitation stems not just from technical challenges but from apprehension about failure in a fast-evolving environment. “We are still in the early days of the AI journey, and it is not going to change every shop or every office overnight,” she says. “But the long-term gains are there to be had, and those gains will ultimately be shaped by the individual choices that businesses and Irish SME owners make today.” The research points to a familiar set of barriers.
For now, Ireland’s main risk is not trailing global tech centers but falling behind neighboring countries. The question remains whether the free training will narrow the gap—or if more SMEs will delay action until it becomes too late.
AI transforms agriculture and conservation
McNally Family Farm in North Dublin uses tools like Gemini to analyze decades of supply chain and weather data, extracting insights from records that were previously inaccessible. The farm’s team poses questions in plain language and receives practical recommendations, eliminating the need for data science expertise.
OpenHive, an Irish conservation group protecting the native black honey bee, faced a different challenge: digitizing handwritten field notes from hundreds of colonies. By photographing the notes and applying AI to convert them into searchable records, the organization removed a significant administrative burden. “The beekeepers still know the bees,” Stolberg says.
In retail and creative industries, brands such as BKultured and IPERA Skincare leverage AI for prototyping and market research, work that once required costly agency contracts. Lahinch Surf Shop, a family-run business, now manages website content and inventory decisions through AI, replacing manual notes with data-driven projections.
Free training bridges skill and cost barriers
The Google AI Professional Certificate, a seven-part program based on Google’s AI Essentials course, aims to accelerate this transition. It covers foundational skills and provides 90 days of free access to Google AI Pro. Through the partnership with Bank of Ireland, the training is now available at no cost to SMEs via the Think Business SME AI Academy Hub.
The certificate program ensures accessibility without requiring prior technical experience. Each module progresses incrementally, starting with core concepts before advancing to practical applications. Participants learn to identify AI opportunities within their workflows, evaluate data quality, and deploy tools like Gemini for specific tasks. The seven-part course includes real-world exercises, such as analyzing customer feedback or optimizing stock levels. Google’s AI Essentials course, which supports the certificate, has already trained over 100,000 learners globally, with many reporting immediate efficiency gains after completing just one module.