Ireland expands practical AI use in business and healthcare

Ireland is seeing a practical expansion of artificial intelligence across various sectors. For the 2026 AI Awards, over 275 applications were submitted by Irish companies, public bodies, and community organisations. These entries demonstrate AI being used for tasks such as reviewing clinical research feedback, preparing inspection reports, speeding up regulatory assessments, and providing tailored energy guidance for households.

In the healthcare sector, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has published an AI implementation framework to support the government’s ‘AI for Care’ strategy. This framework establishes a five-phase approach for AI projects: opportunity identification and prioritisation, planning and approval, design and readiness, integration and deployment, and ongoing operations and monitoring. The process emphasizes clinical safety, ethical considerations, and regulatory compliance, requiring testing in safe environments to ensure seamless operational transitions.