Artificial intelligence to be at the heart of innovation in coming year – The Irish Times

Artificial intelligence to be at the heart of innovation in coming year – The Irish Times

Artificial intelligence to be at the heart of innovation in coming year – The Irish Times

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/01/02/artificial-intelligence-to-be-at-the-heart-of-innovation-in-coming-year/

Publish Date: 2026-01-02 00:01:00

Source Domain: www.irishtimes.com

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to be the driving force behind all future innovation in 2026, impacting various sectors from recruitment and software providing to IT multinationals and cybersecurity.
  • Multimodal AI, which facilitates communication in multiple modes, will become increasingly important, shifting the way businesses interact and making AI more integral to workflow than text-based tools.
  • AI will play a crucial role in enhancing security, with companies needing to demonstrate how they protect their systems, particularly in the wake of new EU regulations like the Cyber Resilience Act.
  • Internal governance will also grow in importance as businesses increasingly adopt AI, emphasizing transparent and practical governance to avoid fines and data breaches.
  • AI is expected to enhance efficiency in recruitment and reduce manual administrative tasks, as well as to accelerate adoption in the public sector, especially in healthcare.
  • Companies will need to beware of vulnerabilities in their supply chains and maintain visibility in data deployment to maximize the benefits of AI while mitigating risks.