'Everybody should embrace AI. You shouldn't be afraid of it' 27th October 2026 Embrace AI or get left behind. That was the message at Friday's Laois Business Summit in the Midlands Park Hotel as Louise Phelan, the Rathdowney woman who is a former vice-president of PayPal, and Kevin O'Loughlin, CEO of IT company Nostra, discussed the issue with MC Bobby Kerr of Newstalk. "It'll be really good for us," said Kevin O'Loughlin in relation to his own business. "But I think it'll generally be really good for most companies if they treat it right. "I don't like looking at AI as replacing the people in front of me (but) if I give AI to people, I'm probably at two or three times the outcome. "They'll enjoy their job more and I'll have better retention. My customers will be better served, and I can grow faster and actually improve my margin. "We need AI to really drive value for us... but I don't believe it will ever replace human creativity." "Back to when the Internet came first, nobody knew what that was about," said Louise Phelan. "AI is now a new addition to all of the technologies that are used every day. And if you don't include AI in your business, shame on you, you're going to lose in your business. The reality is, it's adding value. "If you have an employee that's doing interesting stuff and not having to do input and processing stuff, that's boring. You can actually give them really meaningful things to do, but you can also build your sales. "To me, you know, technology has a place... but you have to close the deal. You have to have the distribution. You have to have the engagement. "You can create your team to be much more sales-focused to grow the business. If the sales are not coming in, the back-end is just operating. And if you're not bringing in the front door, it's not going to create in the back-end. "Everybody should embrace it. You shouldn't be afraid of it." LaoisToday were proud to be the official media partners of the Laois Business Summit.

Executive AI Leadership & Nostra Northern Ireland launch. Nostra, in partnership with Microsoft and with support from Kaseya, is delighted to invite you to an exclusive Executive AI Leadership Breakfast at Titanic Belfast. This special event will also mark the official launch of Nostra Northern Ireland, bringing together business leaders, technology decision-makers, and industry experts for a morning of insights, discussion, and networking. As Artificial Intelligence continues to reshape how organisations operate and compete, this executive briefing will explore how leaders can safely adopt AI, strengthen cybersecurity, and unlock meaningful business value. You'll hear directly from Microsoft experts, industry leaders, and organisations already embracing AI to drive innovation and growth. Event Details Titanic Belfast 09:00 Breakfast & Registration 10:00 Executive Sessions Begin 13:30 Networking Lunch & Close What You'll Gain * Microsoft's latest vision for Enterprise AI and Microsoft Copilot * Practical guidance on AI adoption, governance, and risk management * Cybersecurity strategies for an AI-powered future * Real-world customer success stories and lessons learned * Peer networking with fellow business and technology leaders * An opportunity to celebrate the launch of Nostra Northern Ireland This invitation-only event is designed exclusively for senior executives seeking practical insights into the opportunities, risks, and strategic impact of AI. Booking link: