The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) has changed everything. It has transformed how we use technology, view relationships, and function as a society. In particular, it has had a huge impact on the workplace. Walk into any office and the chances are that someone will have a tab open with ChatGPT, Gemini or Copilot. While an increasingly helpful aid for carrying out research, creating content, and boosting productivity, this rise in workplace AI also brings new challenges.
According to research conducted by Landmark and Censuswide in January 2026, 38% of office workers in Ireland say they wouldn’t be able to do their jobs without the help of AI. This raises an important question: as reliance on AI in the workplace grows, how can companies ensure oversight when employees are increasingly using these tools in the course of their jobs?
In this blog, we break down how AI is reshaping the workplace and how businesses can navigate the complex and evolving challenges that this brings.
Regul‘AI’tion
Workplace AI has never been more prevalent. Indeed, our research found that the vast majority (87%) of office workers say they use AI at work. However, the research also suggests that as adoption continues to increase, so too does the associated risk. Some 18% of employees have completed a work task using an AI tool without checking it for accuracy, while 11% sent AI-generated content to a customer without reviewing it. Nearly half say they trust AI-generated content for critical work decisions.
Moreover, in the past 12 months, one-in-ten employees admit to entering confidential company data into an AI tool, such as ChatGPT, that was not approved by their employer. To mitigate these risks, strict oversight of AI usage is needed to ensure that a company’s data – and the data of its customers – remains protected.
What is AI being used for at work?
The applications of AI in business processes vary significantly. According to our research, of those who use AI tools, a quarter of respondents that use them to summarise contracts or legal documents, 23% leverage them to make decisions without human oversight, and 18% analyse confidential company data. The growing role of AI in these daily processes means that AI systems are increasingly influencing business outputs, often without the necessary controls. Just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should be done. The human element remains vital and it’s crucial that employees receive appropriate AI training and upskilling to ensure that processes are sufficiently regulated.
However, this may not be a problem for long as, due to its increasing proliferation, nearly half of office workers believe AI fatigue will set in and see organisations returning to more traditional ways of working.
Open Dialogue Box
So, if more and more employees are using AI in the workplace, how do we ensure governance? How can organisations keep track of (and limit) what staff are inputting into chatbots? As workplace AI becomes embedded across organisations, these questions become increasingly urgent. According to Landmark’s research, nearly a quarter of employees say their organisation does not have an AI usage policy, while just two-thirds (have received training on safe AI usage. Employers now need to ‘open the dialogue box’ in order to start the conversation about how best to utilise AI tools, without sacrificing data security. Stringent AI policies that are reinforced and updated regularly will help to promote the safe and responsible use of AI in the workplace.
In summary
The key to getting the most out of AI tools for your business, employees, and customers is oversight. As AI increasingly reshapes the workplace, the need for clear governance and the prioritisation of data security has never been greater.
Working with an expert partner can provide organisations with the knowledge and expertise to address these risks. With the right guidance, businesses can adopt workplace AI safely, while ensuring AI in business processes strengthens productivity without compromising security.
To find out more about Landmark’s services, speak to our highly skilled technical or customer service teams. Call us on 01 569 1056 or email hello@landmark.ie.
