by Gillian Whelan, Managing Director of emagine Ireland
Businesses in Ireland have spiked in their adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with 91% now embracing this technology according to research. But what does this almost doubling of adoption within 12 months mean in practice, and how are companies actually using AI?
With tightening budgets, operational efficiency is a growing business priority. The sheer number of ways in which generative AI can be leveraged in a business context is almost without limit. This breadth of possibilities is why, as part of a firm-wide governance and AI policy framework, it is best practice to be very clear and focused in the use of this technology to ensure the right expertise is in place, and that any related compliance issues can be addressed.
Here are three areas of business that can be dramatically streamlined through the use of AI, with significant benefits for HR teams.
A lifeline for legal
Busy businesses are regularly entering into contracts with new employees, contractors, consultancies, partners, office suppliers, property firms, and many other individuals and entities. These contracts can, in some cases, run to hundreds of pages which takes time to review and, if any problems emerge during review, ironing these out will further delay signing on the dotted line and moving forwards.
A growing number of contract AI tools are allowing legal teams or HR representatives to carry out an initial scan of a contract to quickly identify where issues may lie, or any details that will be particularly important to get right, such as around payments or liabilities. The process of clarifying or resolving these points can then be initiated without delay. A human expert will still need to review contracts, but AI can dramatically speed up the negotiation process and with high accuracy, supporting teams to minimise contractual risks.
Intelligent sourcing – where AI meets human insight
In industries that depend on high volumes of project-based work and specialised expertise delivered on a contract basis, AI can play a key role in streamlining how potential consultants are identified and prioritised. Forward-thinking consultancies with extensive expert networks are now leveraging AI-driven tools to analyse, rank, and screen thousands of professional profiles within moments. This significantly reduces the time required to create a refined shortlist of the most relevant candidates for each engagement.
While AI dramatically improves efficiency, it’s essential not to lose sight of the human connection. Technology cannot replace the nuanced understanding that comes from person-to-person interaction. Consultants want to collaborate with people who recognise their expertise, and clients rely on ‘human’ judgment to ensure that each engagement aligns both technically and culturally.
Optimising project delivery with AI
Project management spans all industries, and across this landscape, AI is increasingly being used to enhance how projects are planned, monitored, and delivered. By analysing large volumes of historical and real-time data, such as timelines, budgets, resource allocations, and risk logs, AI can identify patterns and predict potential issues before they impact delivery. This allows project leaders to make earlier, more informed decisions that improve efficiency and project outcomes.
AI-driven tools are also transforming how teams plan and allocate resources. By forecasting demand, analysing capacity, and learning from previous project data, these systems can suggest optimal resource combinations and sequencing. This ensures that the right expertise is applied in the right way, at the right time.
Beyond forecasting and risk prediction, AI can support continuous improvement across projects. Natural language processing and data-mining technologies can pull out key lessons learned during a project, summarise insights, and compare performance against previous projects.
Importantly, while AI enhances accuracy and visibility, it does not replace the human element of project management. The technology supports, rather than substitutes, the judgment, leadership, and collaboration that define successful project delivery. The greatest value lies in combining AI’s analytical power with the human capacity to build relationships and drive progress.
In summary
Simply relying on AI for certain tasks is very different from embedding it safely and effectively into targeted business operations. For example, shadow AI – or the use of AI tools within firms that is not appropriately approved or overseen – is already a red flag in many organisations. The scale of the issue will depend on how widely AI is used across a business and how well this is implemented and governed by leadership teams.
Where two firms combine this is particularly pertinent. Mergers and Acquisitions is another business area that is experiencing an AI boom, with 68% of dealmakers using AI for data analysis and 61% for document scanning, but a merger can multiply the issue of shadow AI.
It is therefore a priority for all business leaders and their IT and HR teams to set and enforce clear policies around how, when and what AI tools can be used, so they can be embedded across the company and used responsibly, securely, and ethically. Leaders need to have a clear stance on how their firm will govern the use of AI as well as educate and be educated on the risks, biases, security implications, and compliance conundrums.
About the author
Gillian Whelan leads the emagine operation in Ireland and has made significant impact on the business since joining in 2017, from heading up the successful Project Management Training Practice within the company, to overseeing the expansion of emagine’s solutions to clients within technology and finance. With extensive experience in the sector over the last 20 years, Gillian has made strong progression since joining the firm.
