Version 1 says it has chosen its new Dublin HQ for its ‘state-of-the-art AI studio’ and will add 250 roles locally.

The new HQ at Four Park Place in Dublin will see it become neighbours to Apple when the US giant officially opens its new Dublin offices later this year, and will also take the Irish technology provider to a headcount of some 3,700 globally.

The Dublin jobs news follows an announcement earlier this month at the UK-Ireland Summit that Version 1 would create 1,000 jobs across the UK, including Northern Ireland, as part of its plans to invest £40m into the UK market over the next few years.

Version 1 was founded in Dublin in 1996 and offers a range of technology services to global organisations. It has other key hubs in London, Edinburgh and Belfast, but has chosen Dublin for its AI studio as it focuses in on AI. At the summit, it said the majority of the 1,000 UK roles would also be AI-focused, and around 400 of the roles would be in Northern Ireland.

“This is more than an office opening. It is a statement of intent,” said Roop Singh, CEO of Version 1. “30 years ago, Version 1 was founded in Dublin with a commitment to making technology deliver extraordinary business outcomes and citizen welfare. That commitment has not changed, but the scale and ambition have.

“Our principal belief is that AI enhances human capability, it does not replace it. This studio is where we will prove that, working alongside our customers and communities to build AI solutions that are practical, governed and grounded in real business outcomes.”

“Version 1’s continued growth and investment in Ireland is a powerful example of an Irish company winning on the global stage,” said Kevin Sherry, executive director at Enterprise Ireland, which has worked closely with Version 1 to support international growth. “The opening of this AI studio positions Ireland as a serious centre for AI innovation and reinforces our ability to develop and retain world-class technology talent.

“Ambitious companies like Version 1 embody Enterprise Ireland’s mission that Irish-owned, globally-focused companies will be the primary driver of our economy,” he added.

Version 1 says the AI studio has been designed as a space to “harness the power of technology by co-creating solutions to complex problems alongside customers from all sectors”, and added that it will be available to schools, universities and community groups in an effort to “democratise” technology. Version 1 says AI must “carry a social licence and be developed responsibly”.

The opening was attended by Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD who described Version 1 as “a blueprint for how Ireland creates, retains and scales world-class technology companies”.

“This new headquarters represents significant inward investment in Ireland’s economy and talent base and cements our position as a premier hub for AI and business transformation services at a time when nations are competing for AI leadership,” he said.

Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Niamh Smyth, TD also attended the launch and said it was Ireland’s ambition to be “at the forefront of responsible AI adoption”.

“Version 1’s new AI studio demonstrates what is possible when Irish enterprise combines deep technical expertise with a genuine commitment to community partnership and skills development,” she said.

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.