Dell hosts AI roadshow in Cork with Minister Smyth

Dell Technologies hosted Minister of State Niamh Smyth at its Cork campus for an event on artificial intelligence as part of the Government's AI Works for Ireland roadshow.

The gathering brought together small and medium-sized businesses, local government representatives, education partners and technology leaders from across the region. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Damian Boylan, and the Mayor of Cork County, Bernard Moynihan, also attended.

Organised in association with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Local Enterprise Office Cork City and Local Enterprise Office South Cork, the event focused on the practical use of artificial intelligence by Irish businesses and its implications for local communities and regional economic activity.

Participants examined examples of companies already using AI in day-to-day operations. The programme also covered digital skills, inclusion and cooperation between business, government and education as organisations consider how to adopt the technology.

Regional Focus

A panel session featured organisations using AI across a range of sectors. Dell said the discussion was designed to give businesses practical insight into how companies are applying AI in operational settings, rather than in abstract or experimental terms.

Attendees also took part in breakout sessions on AI basics, security and compliance, and the future of AI skills and education. The structure reflected a broader effort to address both immediate business questions and longer-term workforce issues linked to wider AI adoption.

The event came as policymakers and businesses in Ireland continue to debate how the country can expand AI adoption beyond large multinationals to smaller firms. Small and medium-sized enterprises are central to that discussion because they often face tighter budget, skills and governance constraints than larger organisations.

Dell's Cork campus provided the backdrop for the roadshow stop, highlighting the role large technology employers play in regional business networks. Its local partnerships with enterprise and education bodies are intended to help organisations access technical knowledge and support as they consider digital transformation projects.

Colman O'Flynn, Cork Site Lead and Vice-President of Business Transformation at Dell Technologies, said: "We were delighted to welcome Minister Smyth, the Lord Mayor of Cork and the Mayor of Cork County to our Cork campus as part of the AI Works for Ireland roadshow. Coming in the first days of Ireland's EU Presidency, the discussions reinforced something we feel strongly about at Dell Technologies: Ireland's AI opportunity will only be fully realised if businesses, communities and individuals of all sizes have the confidence, skills and support to participate.

"Through our collaboration with local enterprise, education and business partners across Cork, we are helping organisations access the knowledge, expertise and technologies needed to embrace AI and digital transformation.

"As Ireland looks to strengthen its position as a leader in digital innovation, continued collaboration between industry, government and education will be critical to ensuring the benefits of AI are accessible to organisations and communities across the country."

The Cork stop highlighted a practical strand in Ireland's AI policy debate, focusing on adoption, governance and training rather than research alone. By bringing together local authorities, enterprise offices, schools and businesses, the event pointed to a model in which regional ecosystems may shape how AI is introduced across the wider economy.

For businesses in attendance, the emphasis appeared to be on near-term uses and the conditions needed to deploy AI responsibly. Security, compliance and skills remained central themes as organisations assessed how to introduce AI tools without creating new operational or regulatory risks.

The presence of local enterprise offices alongside national and municipal representatives also reflected the public sector's interest in making AI more accessible to smaller firms outside Dublin. In Cork, that meant framing the technology not only as a matter for major employers, but also as an issue for local companies, communities and education providers.

The programme featured practical discussion on AI adoption, security and compliance, and the future of skills and education.