Research from consulting group Deloitte has found that more than 60% of people in Ireland have heard of generative artificial intelligence (AI), with 33% having used the technology.

Just over one in ten respondents (11%) – the equivalent of over 300,000 people in Ireland, according to Deloitte – report having used generative AI tools for work.

Of those who have used the technology in Ireland, just over one-third believe that it always produces factually accurate answers; a similar proportion (31%) believes the answers generated are unbiased.

Just over half of the 1,000 respondents who have used the technology have used it “once or twice to try”, or less than monthly, while 6% of respondents use it daily.

The survey comes a year after the launch of ChatGPT.

New EU rules ‘crucial’

Deloitte’s Colm McDonnell (partner, risk advisory) said that the most popular use of generative AI was for personal purposes, followed by education.

“It is clear from these responses that the use of generative AI will only increase with time and greater adoption. It is imperative that we prepare for increased adoption,” he stated.

McDonnell added that new regulations on the way from the EU would be “a crucial element” in striking the balance between trust, safety, and the potential opportunities offered by AI.

‘Acceptable and appropriate’ use

Emmanuel Adeleke (partner, AI and data) pointed out that, among respondents who were aware of these AI tools, 37% believed that their employer would not approve of their use for work purposes.

“It is fair to conclude that employers and employees would benefit from clarity around the acceptable and appropriate use of generative AI,” Adeleke said.

The Deloitte survey found that, among those who were aware of the technology, more than 60% believed that it would reduce the number of jobs available in the future, and almost half were concerned that it would replace some of their role in the workforce in the future.