Most people in Northern Ireland have heard of artificial intelligence. Far fewer have undertaken learning to help them use it confidently.

That is the central challenge identified in a new report from EPIC Futures NI at Ulster University, drawing on the 2025 Northern Ireland Life and Times survey. For businesses in the North West, its findings raise a practical question: how do we turn awareness into skills that make a useful difference at work?

The research finds that 98.6% of respondents had heard of AI, while 67.7% agreed that learning to use AI tools would be essential for most jobs over the next five years. Yet only 18.6% had undertaken AI-related training, a course or self-directed learning in the previous 12 months.

This gap deserves attention. Knowing that technology exists is different from understanding where it can help, where it can go wrong and when human judgement remains essential.

Understanding the hesitation

The report also explains why many people remain cautious.

Some 71.2% believed AI was likely to reduce the number of jobs over the next five years. Meanwhile, 80.5% were concerned that AI might not always make fair or morally right decisions, and 84.2% expressed concern about the misuse of personal data.

These are concerns employers need to take seriously. Staff are unlikely to embrace new tools confidently if they are uncertain about what those tools mean for their responsibilities, their information or their future employment.

Businesses should be clear about what they are trying to achieve. That might mean reducing repetitive administration, improving the quality of a first draft or making information easier to find. Staff should help identify suitable tasks and assess whether the results are useful.

Human oversight matters throughout. An AI-generated answer can sound convincing and still be wrong. Responsibility for checking the work and deciding how it is used must remain clear.

Making learning accessible

The barriers to learning are often practical. Respondents cited training costs (27.1%), a lack of time because of work responsibilities (26.7%) and not knowing where to learn (26.1%).

For a small business, these pressures are familiar. Training competes with customers, staffing and the daily demands of keeping the business running.

Simply encouraging people to learn about AI will therefore achieve little unless they have time, direction and support. Short, relevant learning opportunities, linked to familiar workplace tasks, offer a sensible starting point.

There is an appetite for this: 51.9% of respondents said they would like to learn more about using AI.

For Derry Chamber, the priority is to help members understand the opportunities, ask informed questions and find suitable support. The North West’s businesses need practical routes into learning, including opportunities to share experiences with one another.

The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) offers businesses access to specialist expertise, practical support and learning opportunities, with an emphasis on responsible adoption. Members can explore its business support, free online courses and responsible AI resources through the AICC website.

A manageable first step

Members considering where to begin could identify one routine task and run a small, supervised trial. Drafting a standard customer response using fictional details, or summarising publicly available information, could provide a useful starting point.

Agree what success would look like, check the output and assess whether the tool improves quality or saves time once checking is included. Give staff space to discuss mistakes and concerns alongside any benefits.

The next North West AI Masterclass cohort is opening, with the programme starting on 11th January. Members interested in taking part can contact the Chamber for further details: joshk@londonderrychamber.co.uk 

Businesses do not need to adopt every new tool. They do need the knowledge to make informed decisions. Building that capability across the North West will require accessible training, honest discussion and evidence of what works.

For further detail on the findings, read the EPIC Futures NI report, Artificial Intelligence in Northern Ireland: Public Awareness, AI Skills and Barriers to Adoption.