Northern Ireland’s AI economy doubles in a year as £200m milestone reached two years early

Northern Ireland’s AI economy has roughly doubled in a year — and the headline numbers already clear a milestone that last year’s forecast put two years out.

The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) has published its AI Capability Census 2026, an independent study by Perspective Economics. It finds 400 firms commercially engaged with AI development or deployment, up from 198 in the 2025 baseline — a doubling in twelve months.

AI-related employment is estimated up 79% to 2,402 full-time equivalent roles, while AI-related Gross Value Added has moved from £82 million to £214 million. That puts the region past last year’s moderate 2028 scenario of more than 2,000 AI professionals and £200 million GVA — reached two years early.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA said: “These findings demonstrate the growing momentum across the AI economy in the north. To see the number of businesses commercially engaged with AI double in only twelve months, alongside strong growth in employment and economic contribution, is very encouraging.”

“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.”

Beyond an early-stage market

The Census frames growth as broader than a start-up spike: new AI firms, inward investment, and established companies embedding AI into products and services. For local context on where tech and commercial life sit in the city, see our Doing Business in Belfast hub — and related digital-skills coverage such as Belfast Met’s Digital Film Production Academy.

David Crozier CBE, 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.”

Adoption gap, investment and skills demand

The same report is blunt about unfinished business. Around 45% of Northern Ireland businesses say they are not currently using AI. Access to investment and the ability of smaller firms to scale remain live challenges for the next phase.

On the labour market, job ads requesting an AI or machine-learning skill are up 161% on a rolling twelve-month basis, with median advertised AI salaries around £61,000 in the first half of 2026. Firms in the Census have raised about £158 million in equity since 2024 — yet Northern Ireland still accounted for less than 1% of UK AI equity investment by value in 2025.

Sam Donaldson, Director of Perspective Economics and author of the Census, said: “One of the most interesting findings is the breadth of the growth. It 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.”

“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.”

Looking ahead, the Census points to deeper integration beyond first experiments, stronger skills pathways, help for promising firms to scale, and long-term capability across the ecosystem — the same orientation that sits behind Belfast’s tech and innovation networks covered in our business guide and pieces such as the Catalyst Platinum Partnership.

The full Artificial Intelligence Capability Census 2026 is available at www.aicc.co/capabilitycensus26.