Majority of Waterford business owners believe AI will have positive impact
New research has examined the attitudes of Waterford business owners towards AI
A majority of businesses in Waterford and across the South East recognise the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to drive growth, a new survey has found.
Research commissioned by Google and conducted by Amárach Research found that 79 per cent of SMEs in the South region, including Waterford, believe AI can positively impact their business.
However, only six per cent say AI is central to how their business currently operates.
Waterford-native, Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, said: “As someone from Waterford, I know the strength and ambition of businesses in this region, particularly our small and medium enterprises.
“What we’re seeing isn’t a technology gap — it’s knowing where to start.
“Businesses across Ireland, including here in the South East, recognise the potential of AI but are often unsure how to take the next step.”
81 per cent of businesses in the South report familiarity with AI tools. However, actual integration into business operations tells a different story.
Only 6 per cent describe AI as central to their operations while just 39 per cent are using AI at least regularly in parts of their business
Meanwhile, 19 per cent are not using AI for any business tasks
The main barriers preventing greater AI adoption include cost (42%), a fear of making mistakes (31%), and a lack of skills (29%).
The research found strong demand for practical supports and training among business owners, with SMEs saying demonstrations, training programmes and access to tools would help accelerate adoption.
Google and the Local Enterprise Office network are providing access to up to 10,000 AI scholarships through Coursera, offering practical training in real-world AI applications including content creation, customer communications and data analysis.
Vanessa Hartley continues: “At Google, we’re committed to helping businesses grow, innovate and compete in an AI-powered economy.
“This programme is about giving them the practical skills, tools and confidence to turn potential into real impact.
“We want to encourage businesses from across the region to apply for one of the 10,000 training scholarships and take the next steps on their AI journey.”
The findings also highlight growing competitive pressure, with 71 per cent of businesses in Waterford saying they believe they are behind competitors in AI adoption — significantly above the national average of 57 per cent.
The Google AI Professional Certificate, available through Coursera, covers more than 20 practical business use cases and is designed to help business owners and employees build confidence and develop skills that can be applied immediately within their organisations.