Northern Ireland’s artificial intelligence economy has doubled in size over the past year, highlighting the growing importance of AI to businesses, jobs and future economic development.
The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) has published its 2026 AI Capability Census, providing an updated picture of AI adoption, skills, employment, investment and economic impact across Northern Ireland.
The findings show significant growth since the first baseline report was published in 2025.
Strong growth in Northern Ireland’s AI economy
According to the 2026 census:
- The number of companies commercially engaged with AI has doubled, increasing from 198 in 2025 to 400 in 2026.
- Estimated AI-related employment has increased by 79% to 2,402 full-time equivalent roles.
- AI-related Gross Value Added (GVA) has increased from £82 million to £214 million.
The £200 million GVA milestone that had originally been projected for 2028 has therefore been reached two years ahead of schedule.
Making sure Omagh benefits from AI growth
The figures demonstrate how quickly AI is becoming part of the Northern Ireland economy, but the important question for places such as Omagh is how that growth can be translated into local opportunities.
AI should not simply be something happening within large companies or concentrated in Belfast and other major centres.
Businesses in Omagh and across the wider west of Northern Ireland need access to the skills, advice, digital infrastructure and workspace that allow them to understand where AI can genuinely improve their business.
For SMEs, that could include using AI to improve productivity, develop content, analyse information, automate repetitive tasks or provide better customer service.
The focus should be on using technology as a practical tool rather than adopting AI simply because it is the latest trend.
Building capability locally
This is where local digital infrastructure becomes increasingly important.
Facilities such as the Digi-Hub in Omagh can help create the environment needed for digital businesses, technology companies, entrepreneurs and remote workers to establish and grow from the local area.
Good connectivity, flexible workspace and opportunities to collaborate mean businesses do not necessarily have to relocate to a large city to participate in emerging sectors.
As AI changes the way businesses operate, locations that combine digital infrastructure with skilled people and business support will be better placed to benefit.
For Omagh, the opportunity is not simply to consume new technology but to build the skills and businesses capable of helping shape how it is used.
Understanding the opportunities and challenges
The full AI Capability Census looks beyond the headline figures and examines:
- where AI activity is taking place across Northern Ireland
- the sectors and technologies driving growth
- the AI skills businesses require
- how widely AI is being adopted across the wider business community
- investment and public sector procurement
- potential growth scenarios through to 2030
- recommendations for strengthening Northern Ireland’s AI capability
The continued growth of AI presents significant opportunities, but ensuring those opportunities are spread across Northern Ireland will require investment in skills, connectivity, business support and regional digital infrastructure.
For Omagh, that means continuing to create an environment where businesses can adopt new technology, people can develop digital careers locally and companies can choose to establish and grow without having to leave the area.
