WF: backing for nuclear to power AI data needs

The Irish public conversation on nuclear has historically been settled but is now reopening, according to the 2026 William Fry Technology Report.

In a significant policy shift, half of organisations surveyed now support the introduction of nuclear energy if it secures the data infrastructure needed for massive AI and quantum computing demands.

Large tech firms elsewhere are using nuclear power, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), to deliver carbon-free baseload power for AI data centres, the report points out.

Businesses are increasingly pragmatic on energy, but social licence in Ireland remains a sensitive question, the authors state.

Outstripping defences

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence is also outstripping existing cybersecurity defences and traditional business models, the report states.

It flags what it terms a ‘seismic shift’ in the corporate landscape.

It names this shift as a ‘Mythos moment’  and highlights a move away from the ‘move fast and break things’ era of tech adoption and its replacement by a ‘regulatory-first’ approach.

The report shows that 81% of large organisations now believe legal and regulatory requirements are paramount in adopting new technology.

The William Fry survey was conducted by IPSOS B&A in March 2026.

Research from Microsoft and Trinity College Dublin suggests that AI alone could contribute more than €250 billion to Irish GDP over the next decade, one of the authors WF head of technology Leo Moore (pictured) adds in the introduction.

Compliance guardrail

Legal compliance is a precondition for innovation, the report states.

William Fry lawyers cite emerging EU legislation, including:

• EU AI Act,
• DORA, and
• NIS 2.

However, the report notes a growing awareness gap between large firms and medium-sized enterprises.

Regulatory perimeter

Smaller players risk being left behind as the ‘regulatory perimeter’ hardens around procurement and financing, the report states.

Confidence in cybersecurity is at a historic low and only 17% of businesses believe their security posture can keep pace with AI-driven threats.

The report points to the April announcement of the Anthropic ‘Mythos model’ as a turning point.

Mythos reportedly identified thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities autonomously.

This knowledge has forced boards to view cybersecurity not as a discretionary IT expense, but as a mandatory legal obligation for operational resilience.

[Only 11% of large organisations report a positive return (ROI) to date, although 80% of them have made an investment].

The report identifies a value gap between the high cost of AI deployment and measurable improvements in revenue or productivity.

William Fry states that 2026 will be the year of the contractual reset.

Organisations are moving away from traditional ‘seat-based’ or ‘token-based’ pricing.

Instead, they are renegotiating agreements to include:

• Outcome-based metrics: fees tied to actual business results (conversion uplifts or diagnostic accuracy),
• Model substitution rights: The ability to swap underlying AI models if performance benchmarks aren't met,
• Transparency obligations: Mandatory documentation required under the EU AI Act.

Ireland remains the European jurisdiction of choice for tech investment, outperforming Germany and Britain, the report states, with 57% rating it as ‘highly suitable’.

This country also offers stability and a pro-business environment, as well as proximity to customers, it adds.

Vital bridge

Ireland is increasingly viewed as a vital bridge between US innovation and stringent European standards, with 47% agreeing that EU regulation enhances business certainty.

EU-wide rules are increasingly viewed as a source of certainty and consistency, rather than a barrier to innovation.

However, this status is under pressure from infrastructure demands, the report states.

The report suggests that ‘AI champions’ inside adopting firms are more effective than external training.

The authors argue that organisations that treat AI literacy as a core activity will emerge as winners, as the divide between the ‘AI-ready’ and laggards grows wider.