Northern Ireland’s AI economy ‘doubles in a year’ to more than £200m – report

Northern Ireland’s AI economy has doubled in a year, according to a new report.

The Artificial Intelligence Capability Census 2026 found that 400 firms commercially engaged with AI, supporting more than 2,400 AI-related jobs and generating an estimated £214m in GVA (gross value added).

This compares with 198 firms in the inaugural study in 2025 commissioned by the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) and independently prepared by Perspective Economics.

Estimated AI-related employment has increased by 79% to 2,402 full-time equivalent roles, while estimated AI-related GVA has risen from £82 million to £214 million.

The findings indicate that Northern Ireland has surpassed the moderate growth scenario set out in last year’s census, which projected more than 2,000 AI professionals and £200 million in AI-related GVA by 2028.

The research also highlights the next challenge of converting rapid growth in AI capability into wider adoption across the economy, with around 45% of Northern Ireland businesses still reporting that they are not currently using AI.

Economy Minister Caoimhe Archibald described “growing momentum across the local AI economy”.

“To see the number of businesses commercially engaged with AI double in only 12 months, alongside strong growth in employment and economic contribution, is very encouraging,” she said.

“Artificial intelligence has the potential to support our ambitions for a more productive, innovative and regionally balanced economy.

“My focus remains on ensuring businesses and our workforce have the skills, confidence and support to adopt these technologies responsibly, ethically and effectively.

“The evidence provided by the AI Capability Census will help us understand both the opportunities and challenges in more depth as we work collaboratively to further strengthen the north’s position in this rapidly developing area of technology, including through my AI Advisory Panel.”

David Crozier, director of the AICC, said: “Northern Ireland is no longer an emerging AI economy. It is one where AI adoption, diffusion and economic impact is accelerating at pace across every postcode.

“The significance of these findings is not simply that Northern Ireland has more AI companies or more AI-related jobs. It is that AI is becoming a more meaningful part of our economy, with businesses increasingly building capability, creating value and applying the technology in real-world settings.

“Our focus now has to be on turning that momentum into long-term advantage, helping more businesses adopt AI effectively, supporting promising companies to grow, and ensuring Northern Ireland has the skills and capability to compete in a rapidly changing global economy.”

Sam Donaldson, director of Perspective Economics and author of the census, highlighted the breadth of the growth, which is “not being driven by one type of company or one part of the market”. 

“We are seeing new dedicated AI firms emerging, established technology and professional services businesses expanding their AI teams, and companies in more traditional sectors adding AI to existing products and services,” he said.

“That points to an ecosystem that is becoming broader and more embedded across the economy.

“At the same time, the data shows clear gaps around investment, wider business adoption and the progression of smaller firms into larger-scale businesses, which will be important areas to watch over the next year.”