AI isn’t just a buzzword in the IRO world anymore—it’s a game-changer. It’s revolutionizing how IR teams operate, enabling them to work smarter, faster and with greater impact. With deeper intelligence at their fingertips, they’re elevating their roles by focusing on strategic initiatives that drive real results.
At the recent IR Impact Forum – AI & Technology Europe, where Q4 was an event partner, industry experts shared their experiences, insights and lessons on how IROs are exploring AI—what’s working, what’s not and what’s next.
The Key Stages of AI Adoption in IR
Industry leaders described AI adoption in three key stages, reflecting how teams are embracing AI to improve processes, unlock new capabilities and explore future possibilities.
- Discovering what we didn’t know was possible: AI is unlocking valuable insights hidden in unstructured data—from investor sentiment patterns to competitive intelligence signals that were previously out of reach.
- Doing what we’ve always done—but better and faster: IROs are using AI to enhance familiar tasks like drafting press releases, summarizing earnings calls and automating tedious manual processes.
- Doing things we couldn’t do before: AI is now enabling IROs to tackle complex challenges that once required deep expertise—like validating intricate research reports or surfacing timely information for leadership.
How IROs Are Successfully Using AI
Depending on where IROs were in their AI journey, use cases ranged from streamlining everyday activities, such as preparing for Q&As, to more strategic applications like persona-driven investor targeting. A few surprising applications were thrown into the mix too, including results briefing in multiple languages using AI avatars and instant podcast generation!
Smaller teams—particularly single-member IROs juggling responsibilities across IR, ESG and corp comms—were especially enthusiastic about AI. For them, AI was transformative. It not only drove efficiencies by helping them power through day-to-day tasks and focus on strategic priorities, but also enabled them to tackle complex, nuanced tasks by interrogating data across multiple secure sources to produce stronger outcomes.
IROs who’ve successfully integrated AI into their functions have transitioned from being reactive to proactive—in a way that wasn’t possible manually. They’re now gauging market reactions, predicting sentiment, anticipating analyst expectations and staying on top of industry peers.
Investors Are Using AI Too. What Should IROs Do to Keep Up?
Search is changing for investors—they’re approaching research differently than they did just a few years ago. They’re increasingly turning to AI to uncover insights from unstructured data, investor forums and social sentiment, giving them a sharper edge in identifying opportunities and red flags.
As investors embrace AI for research, IROs must ensure their digital presence is optimized—with clear messaging, accessible data and insights that make their narrative easy to find and understand. A practical recommendation was to conduct a keyword analysis using tools like Meltwater to identify and address gaps between the messaging IROs are sharing and the topics investors are actively discussing in forums.
Investors are looking for IR websites that go beyond static information. Their wishlist includes interactive data visualizations, peer benchmarking insights and content that provides meaningful context—so they can find valuable information quickly and make informed decisions with confidence.
Practical Steps for IROs Exploring AI Adoption
AI adoption isn’t one-size-fits-all. While its potential is clear, IROs face different challenges depending on their industry, region and company structure. The key is to take a thoughtful, phased approach—starting small, building momentum and ensuring your strategy aligns with your organization’s goals and compliance standards.
Where to start:
1. Define your AI policy: Most panelists agreed this is a crucial first step. Establishing clear guidelines for AI adoption—including internal policies and collaboration with General Counsel—can mitigate risks and ensure compliance.
2. Prioritise data security with proprietary AI and corporate LLMs: Data security and privacy, unsurprisingly, remain top concerns. For organizations in highly regulated industries, prioritizing proprietary AI tools or deploying corporate LLMs in closed environments can enhance data security and control.
3. Assign ownership of AI initiatives: Designate a clear owner to drive AI adoption, ensuring accountability and momentum. Clear ownership empowers them to push initiatives forward, tackle roadblocks and champion AI’s value across the organization.
4. Educate leadership and teams: Help teams and leaders understand AI’s potential by building awareness of its benefits and limitations. When people feel informed, they’re more likely to trust the technology, embrace its value and make smarter decisions about its use.
5. Start with high-impact use cases: Focus on practical, high-value tasks that deliver immediate results—such as earnings call summaries or risk identification—to showcase AI’s impact early in the adoption journey.
6. Get your data AI-ready: Ensure your data is well-structured, complete and accurate so AI tools can generate meaningful insights. Poor data quality can undermine results and increase the risk of costly mistakes.
7. Balance AI insights with human judgment: While AI can enhance efficiency, human oversight is crucial to maintaining authenticity. Speakers expressed concerns about AI-generated messaging sounding robotic, making it vital to review content to ensure it remains engaging.
Tanya Thomas, Q4’s EVP EMEA, addressed the evolution from sceptic through curious to enthusiast when it comes to AI. While some are embracing AI’s potential, others remain hesitant—not only due to concerns about data security or legal risks, but also a sense of exposure—whether that’s not knowing where to begin or feeling unprepared to manage AI effectively.
Her advice for sceptics was clear: don’t let caution stop you from exploring AI’s potential. Thoughtful adoption drives better outcomes—or as Tanya put it, “You get the AI you deserve.” She encouraged IROs to approach AI with ambition rather than hesitation: “Don’t hold back—take a bathtub, not a thimble, to the ocean!”
Embrace AI—With Confidence and Control
The most successful IROs are those taking a bold yet thoughtful approach—embracing AI’s potential while safeguarding trust and security. With secure AI solutions, you don’t have to choose between innovation and security. By prioritizing data protection, IROs can confidently explore AI’s potential—the key is adopting tools that deliver both innovation and security to help you move forward with confidence.
Learn how industry leaders are starting their AI journey with Q4’s secure AI—securely and strategically.
