News Headlines | AI saving businesses up to 1,000 hours a month - report AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. New research from Trinity College Dublin and Microsoft Ireland, detailed in the AI Economy Ireland 2026 report, shows that artificial‑intelligence tools are freeing substantial amounts of time for Irish firms: mid‑sized organisations are saving up to 1,000 hours each month, while large multinationals can gain as many as 5,000 hours. The study found AI adoption is now near‑universal, with 92 % of companies using or planning to use the technology, and seven‑in‑ten senior leaders reporting a reduced workload, one‑third saying AI helps them switch off, and 26 % experiencing less evening and weekend work. Catherine Doyle, General Manager of Microsoft Ireland, highlighted the real value being delivered and urged that the benefits be shared broadly, including closing confidence gaps and supporting SMEs to move from early adoption to full integration. The survey, conducted with senior leaders from 250 Irish organisations between December 2025 and January 2026, used self‑reported time‑saving data and economic modelling to estimate the gains, while noting parallel concerns that roughly 7 % of current jobs—about 200,000 positions—could be displaced in the short‑to‑medium term, according to a separate study by the Economic and Social Research Institute. Read more: https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0429/1570933-ai-businesses/ #TrinityCollege #MicrosoftIreland #ESRI #AIEconomy #business #CatherineDoyle