For Ruth McGuinness, artificial intelligence (AI) will move us all towards an ‘agentic’ future whereby we spend less time glued to our desks and more time with colleagues.
She heads up a team of 200 at technology service giant Kainos – and remains one of the leaders in the field of AI here in Northern Ireland, as head of data and artificial intelligence.
“Kainos is working to embed AI into everything that we do, creating solutions that enable us and our customers to work smarter, not harder,” she tells Ulster Business.
“For example, AI copilots and agentic systems are already transforming our workflows, automating routine tasks, and freeing up our teams to focus on creativity, collaboration, and strategic decision-making.”
Kainos is now a growing business with a huge workforce of more than 3,000, and is currently building its new headquarters on the Dublin Road in Belfast city centre.
Some of the key work its doing in regards to AI involves helping the Ministry of Defence establish the Defence AI Centre, along with developing ethical AI principles.
“One of the biggest shifts in the technology landscape is the understanding that every app will now be an AI App,” she says.
“Much of our work in Kainos involves transforming legacy systems, as well as building new applications, and we are achieving greater impact through the infusion of AI-by-default. By adopting AI technologies, particularly advancements like generative AI, agentic AI, and autonomous systems, we are able to enhance personalisation, improve efficiency, and enable entirely new ways of solving problems for our customers.
“Workforces will experience both disruption and opportunity in the age of AI. Repetitive and manual tasks will be automated, leading to a decline in demand for certain roles. However, this will also create a surge in demand for new skill sets and roles, in Kainos this has included AI ethics specialists, AI engineers, data governance professionals, as well as low code and copilot experts.
“Workers will need to adapt to new technologies by acquiring digital and AI-related skills. Lifelong learning will become a necessity, and organisations will need to invest heavily in training their teams to work alongside AI systems.”
Ruth grew up in Belfast, and was recently named Microsoft Ireland Woman of the Year 2024 – as well as publishing her first children’s book.
“I’ve spent most of my career at the intersection of technology, leadership, and innovation,” she says.
“My focus has always been on advancing AI while ensuring it aligns with societal values and regulatory standards.
“Prior to Kainos, I built a strong foundation in technology leadership. I spent the formative years of my technology career at Tascomi Ltd, a local cloud software scale-up and homegrown success story, eventually serving on the board of directors and exiting prior to the company’s acquisition by Idox plc. Pursuing a strong personal interest in AI, I took up an emerging technology role at PwC NI, leading the operational technology team, which eventually became the Advanced Research and Engineering Centre (ARC), a joint research partnership between Queen’s University Belfast, Ulster University and PwC.”
Looking at the role AI will play here, Ruth says it will “not just reshape workforces – it will redefine how we think about work itself”.
“While some jobs will disappear, we can be certain that many more will evolve. The key lies in preparation – equipping individuals and organisations to adapt to this new reality responsibly and sustainably. Governments, academic institutions, and industries must collaborate to ensure that as AI becomes more central to our lives, it creates opportunities that benefit everyone.”
And on the challenges facing Northern Ireland and its tech sector, she says “one of the most pressing issues is the shortage of specialised talent in fields like AI, data science, and software engineering”.
“While Northern Ireland produces exceptional tech graduates, many are drawn to larger markets such as Dublin, London, or the US, resulting in a ‘brain drain’.
“Although there’s strong interest in technology careers in school-aged people, gaps in advanced training and upskilling opportunities – particularly in cutting-edge areas like AI and machine learning – are limiting the region’s ability to meet growing demand.”
“Turning to her own role as a leader in business, she says: “As a young woman and a mother, my approach to leadership is deeply rooted in empathy, collaboration, and authenticity. I believe that effective leadership is about creating an environment where people feel empowered, valued, and supported to reach their potential – both professionally and personally.
“A leadership lesson that my mum taught me early in my career was to surround myself with people who are smarter than me – and to let them get on with it. That’s a mantra that I have always tried to follow. I trust my team and importantly, give them the autonomy to take ownership of their work. I encourage creativity and problem-solving, ensuring everyone feels confident contributing their ideas.”
“I see my role as a leader as not just about guiding outcomes but also about mentoring and growing future leaders.
“Ultimately, I believe leadership is about leaving a legacy – not just through results, but through the people you inspire, the opportunities you create, and the culture you cultivate.”