Responsible artificial intelligence is moving up the Irish business agenda, but a significant execution gap remains. A new PwC Ireland study finds that while 77% of Irish organisations have begun the journey toward responsible AI and governance, only 19% treat it as a priority right across the organisation. With EU AI Act enforcement arriving in August 2026, the window for professional bodies to lead on AI governance is open and urgent.

The findings carry a constructive message for associations and institutes: organisations that build responsible AI capability now will define standards for their sectors. Three gaps in the PwC research present direct opportunities: the governance execution deficit, the resourcing shortfall, and the employee training gap.

The governance execution gap is measurable. Only 16% of Irish respondents rate their organisation as very effective in AI standards, against 52% in the United States. Communication of responsible AI priorities stands at 21% in Ireland versus 52% in the US, and employee training effectiveness at just 14% against 49%. For associations, these figures map where structured guidance and credentialling frameworks deliver the most value.

Resourcing constraints compound the challenge. Nearly two-thirds of Irish respondents, 65%, say investment in responsible AI and governance is insufficient, compared with 29% of US peers. PwC’s Global AI Performance study of 1,217 executives across 25 sectors found that AI leaders are 1.7 times more likely to have a responsible AI framework, and that 74% of AI’s economic value is captured by just 20% of organisations. The gap between leaders and laggards is widening.

EU AI Act readiness is the most pressing challenge. Only 14% of Irish organisations report being fully prepared for compliance, with 70% partially prepared. Limited internal expertise is the leading barrier, cited by 53%, followed by budget constraints at 37% and lack of clarity at 30%. As PwC Ireland COO David Lee observed, organisations struggle most with turning high-level principles into scalable operational practices.

Three priorities stand out for association leaders. First, develop responsible AI readiness frameworks tailored to the sectors members operate in, providing a structured path to full compliance. Second, embed AI governance into CPD curricula, addressing the training shortfall the research identifies as one of the widest gaps between Ireland and global peers. Third, convene peer communities focused on AI governance maturity, enabling members to benchmark progress.

The PwC Ireland Responsible AI study is both a diagnostic and a call to action. As Keith Power, PwC Data and AI Partner, noted, the next phase for Irish organisations is scaling responsible AI to full enterprise-wide adoption, underpinned by investment in skills and governance. Associations and institutes that step into the governance leadership gap now will become the trusted standards-setters the Irish AI economy needs.

(The views expressed by the writer are his/her own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of BusinessRiver.)