Jason Ward, EMEA North Vice-President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland has unveiled his top five technology predictions for 2025, outlining how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies will redefine and transform the way Irish businesses operate.
The technology leader is forecasting how advancements in AI, data infrastructure, and emerging technologies like quantum computing and 6G will redefine business operations in 2025. Key predictions include the rise of AI agents, the fusion of AI with other new technologies, and the growing importance of upskilling to harness AI’s potential.
“2025 will be a pivotal year for technology, where AI moves from experimentation to execution and becomes an essential driver of business transformation,” said Jason Ward, EMEA North Vice-President and Managing Director of Dell Technologies Ireland. “The era of trial and error in AI has come to an end, with businesses of all sizes moving to adopt Generative AI to enhance productivity, efficiency and growth.”
“To stay competitive in the AI era, businesses must have a clear strategy, modern infrastructure, and a commitment to upskilling their workforce. By anticipating emerging technology trends that will shape Ireland’s economy, Dell can enable public and private sector organisations to adapt, innovate, and thrive in 2025 and beyond. Through our team of technologists and experts and unique capabilities, such as our Customers Solutions Centre Innovation Lab in Limerick, we’re helping organisations in every sector to accelerate their AI journey and make it a success.”
1. AI will deliver real business value, scaling from concept to reality
2024 was a year of AI discovery, but 2025 will be the year businesses realise tangible returns on investment. According to McKinsey, GenAI usage has doubled in just 10 months, where businesses in these stages are learning, testing and gaining insights into what AI can achieve.
Industries like healthcare, finance, and logistics will lead the way in deploying AI and scaling it to solve current challenges. If an organisation’s AI strategy isn’t clearly defined yet, make it a top priority in 2025. Tools are maturing at a rapid pace, and Irish businesses that fail to adapt risk falling behind.
2. 2025 will see the rise of AI agents
2025 will also see the rise of AI agents, with abilities far beyond chatbots or virtual assistants. AI agents are software systems designed to plan, make decisions, and execute actions to achieve specific goals.
Unlike traditional chatbots we know today, these systems will execute tasks autonomously, offering dynamic and creative solutions. By resolving detailed customer inquiries and tailoring real-time marketing campaigns, AI agents will become integral tools of employees across the country. Gartner predicts that by 2028, these agents will manage one-third of all generative AI interactions. At Dell, we’re exploring the use of intelligent agents to help teams sort through content and code artifacts and other knowledge bases with the view to sharing those learnings with organisations in Ireland.
3. Future of work will increasingly be shaped by AI PCs
In 2025, AI-powered PCs will enhance productivity for Irish businesses and shape the future of work. These devices, equipped with embedded AI, will handle tasks like drafting follow-ups, organising to-do lists, and summarising emails before the workday even begins. With 2025 likely to bring a big PC refresh, an AI accelerator, or NPU, will be found in nearly every device, meaning PCs will be capable of running AI workloads and apps.
By processing data locally, they offer faster performance, improved security, and greater cost efficiency—key benefits for many of Ireland’s hybrid workplaces and remote teams. For businesses relying on older hardware, upgrading to smarter devices will be essential to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
4. New era of innovation will be unlocked as AI converges with other technologies
The next wave of innovation will be driven by the convergence of AI with other emerging technologies. In 2025, this powerful combination of AI with quantum computing, 6G networks, intelligent edge, and digital twins will unlock groundbreaking advancements across a growing number of sectors in Ireland. The integration of AI with 6G’s high-speed connectivity will empower smart factories to make real-time decisions, boosting production efficiency and enabling predictive maintenance.
The convergence of AI with Edge Computing will also enable the emergence of smart grids allowing businesses to better manage their energy. This new wave of innovation will unlock unprecedented levels of performance and efficiency, reshaping industries and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.
5. Upskilling will become one of the best investments of 2025
The growing adoption of GenAI among Irish businesses will make AI fluency a vital skill in every sector of the economy. From advanced programmers and prompt engineers to AI content editors, new AI tasks and jobs will also emerge. In 2025, organisations across Ireland will need to prioritise the upskilling of their employees and putting in place dedicated workforce transformation plans to stay competitive.
Although the latest data from the Dell Innovation Catalysts Study found that 59% of organisations in Ireland are training or upskilling employees to use GenAI, the remainder of businesses will need to rapidly catch up. Investing in upskilling will be one of the best investments businesses will make in 2025.
