Opportunities and Threats Posed by Artificial Intelligence

McAreavey, Patrick (2024) Opportunities and Threats Posed by Artificial Intelligence. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This study explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the Irish technology sector, highlighting the potential opportunities and threats currently being faced by workers in the sector with the widespread adoption of AI in the workplace. The aim of this study is to identify if Irish technology workers are suitably equipped to deal with the transition towards AI and highlight if they are motivated or demotivated by the challenges and opportunities that AI presents.

The literature review provides an overview of the positive and negative impacts that AI can have in the workplace, however, the literature review also highlights the transformational nature that AI can have if it is deployed and adopted in line with key strategic business objectives. The literature review also acmes the possible economic and social impacts of AI and how governments and representative bodies can agree on a framework for the positive use of AI. Literature to date has mainly focused on quantitative analysis with a lack of research on an industry, for example, the IT Industry and this presented a gap for further research.

The study adopted a qualitative approach and used semi-structured interviews as the primary method of data collection, with eight interviews conducted with skilled workers in Ireland. The qualitative approach allows more flexibility during the interviews, this is critical to understand the complexity of AI and the advancement of AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot. The research utilised the COM-B model (Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivation, and Behaviour) to guide the research questions and to facilitate the objectives as set out as part of the methodology.

The primary data reveals that many workers are motivated by the widespread adoption of AI but there are concerns about job displacements and the unknowns about the future of AI. Overall, the primary data reveals that there are more positives than negatives when it comes to AI adoption and this provides a positive outlook for workers in the Irish technology sector.

This study adds to the ever growing body of knowledge on AI but provides a focused look at the Irish technology sector and its workers.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email Hurley, David UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	T Technology > T Technology (General) Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology > Methods of research. Technique. Experimental biology > Data processing. Bioinformatics > Artificial intelligence Q Science > Q Science (General) > Self-organizing systems. Conscious automata > Artificial intelligence H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > Business Ethics D History General and Old World > DA Great Britain > Ireland
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Business Administration
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	17 Jun 2025 17:16
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2025 17:16
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/7886

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