On Friday, the University of Galway hosted its fourth annual Business Summit. The theme: the business of AI. And I was in the room. So today, I’m bringing the room to you.
Setting the Scene
The summit opened with a clear message: AI is not coming. It’s already here.
University President Professor David Byrne set the tone immediately. AI is not something that will reshape decision-making—it is reshaping it right now. The university has already embedded AI into its strategy. This isn’t trend-chasing. It’s transformation.
Professor Karena Yan, Dean of the J.E. Cairnes School of Business, reinforced that message:
AI is no longer experimental. It is operational.
Five Takeaways from the Summit
1. If you’re not applying AI, your expertise is already dated
This was the line that hit hardest.
If you’re a marketer, a tax professional, a public servant, a communications leader—and you haven’t applied AI in your field—your expertise is already starting to age.
That’s uncomfortable. But it’s true.
We are moving from:
- Processor → Analyst → Architect
AI now handles much of the processing—and increasingly, the analysis.
Your value lies in becoming the architect: asking better questions, designing better systems, and making better decisions.
And one word came up that I underlined twice:
Taste.
Taste is knowing what’s worth choosing—and why.
That’s not something AI can replicate.
2. Start small. One use case is enough.
There’s a myth that AI is only for large enterprises.
It’s not.
Agentic AI—tools that can take action and run workflows—is now accessible and affordable. The real barrier isn’t budget. It’s mindset.
Majella Mungovan from Meta shared a powerful insight:
Start somewhere. One process. One problem. One use case.
Not ten. Not everything. Just one.
And this is something I teach consistently:
Start with the business problem—not the technology.
If you start with the tool, you waste time.
If you start with the problem, you build something that works.
3. Don’t wait for regulation—build your own standards
Nicola Flannery from Deloitte made this clear:
The organisations that lead in AI won’t be the ones waiting for regulation.
They’ll be the ones building ethical frameworks now.
Especially in the public sector, this matters even more.
If you’re working in government or communications, you operate on public trust. You can’t afford to wait.
The EU AI Act sets the floor.
But leadership means building toward the ceiling.
4. You’re not behind—most people haven’t started
This was one of the most reassuring insights of the day.
John Clancy shared that 85% of people globally are not yet using AI in any meaningful way.
So if you feel behind —you’re not.
We’re still early.
The leaders won’t be the ones who wait for perfect conditions.
They’ll be the ones who started, learned, and adapted quickly.
My advice?
Don’t overthink it. Take one step. Then another.
5. Start with the problem, not the tool
This is where most organisations go wrong.
They ask:
- Should we use ChatGPT?
- Should we use Copilot?
- Which model should we choose?
Wrong questions.
The right questions are:
- What problem are we solving?
- Where are the bottlenecks?
- What process is slow, costly, or error-prone?
Map the process first.
Then apply AI.
This is what separates real transformation from what I call “AI theatre”—looking busy without changing anything.
The Meta Moment
One moment stood out—and sparked the biggest conversation of the day.
Majella Mungovan was speaking on behalf of Meta. This came just days after a landmark US ruling found Meta liable for designing platforms harmful to young people.
So I asked a direct question:
Will Meta fully comply with the EU AI Act?
The answer? Measured. Careful. Not quite yes. Not quite no.
What I heard was this:
There is a cost-benefit calculation behind compliance.
And here’s the reality:
When the cost of not complying exceeds the cost of complying—compliance happens.
That’s commercial logic. Not ethical leadership.
And in a university built “for the public good,” that distinction matters.
Personal Moment
I attended the summit with my daughter Sophie, who lectures in business at the university.
Watching her sit in that room—listening, questioning, processing—was powerful.
Because the questions being asked weren’t theoretical.
They were real:
- What does expertise look like now?
- What does trust mean in an AI-driven world?
- What does leadership look like when AI is your “second brain”?
These are not future questions.
They are questions of right now.
Final Thought
If there’s one thing I want you to take away, it’s this:
AI is not about tools.
It’s about transformation.
Start small. Stay focused. Build responsibly.
And most importantly—get started.
And with that comes a new set of leadership challenges—trust, governance, ethics, and leadership itself.
That framing stayed with me all day.
That’s your long listen for today. If this sparked something for you – a question, a challenge, a use case you want to think through – you know where to find me. Pick up a copy of the AI Playbook, join the AI Playbook Diploma, or come find me at publicsectormarketingpros.com. The Human in the Loop newsletter goes out every week – subscribe and stay in the loop.
About the Podcast Host
AI and Communications Specialist | Author | Podcaster | International Speaker
Joanne Sweeney is a recognised leader in digital marketing and digital transformation, specialising in the practical application of AI to enhance communication strategies. The founder of Digital Training Institute, Joanne, empowers leaders and communications professionals to leverage AI responsibly and effectively, ensuring transparency, trust, and tangible results.
She completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Programme in AI and Public Policy this summer before launching her fourth book AI Playbook, in September. Joanne has also published two editions of Public Sector Marketing Pro, which were preceded by her first title, Social Media Under Investigation Law Enforcement and the Social Web.
Her books have become go-to resources for governments, public sector and policing agencies, as well as marketing and communications professionals, all navigating the challenges of the changing Internet.
Joanne is the host of the AI SIX Podcast, a daily six-minute podcast that provides actionable insights, expert interviews, and practical advice to help professionals navigate the new world of work.
