OpenAI selects Dublin site for EU headquarters and plans 250 new jobs

29 Jul

The AI company will expand its 100-person Ireland team over the next two years and base its European operations at the Tropical Fruit Warehouse.

Micheál Martin meets a group connected with OpenAI’s operations in Ireland. The image was shared by Emmanuel Marill alongside the company’s Dublin expansion announcement. — ***OpenAI representatives recently met Taoiseach Micheál Martin as the company prepared to expand its Ireland workforce and establish its new EU headquarters in Dublin. Image credit: Emmanuel Marill***

OpenAI has selected Dublin’s Tropical Fruit Warehouse as its new European Union headquarters and plans to create 250 jobs in Ireland over the next two years.

The hiring plan would substantially expand an Ireland team that OpenAI says has grown to around 100 people since the company established its presence in the country three years ago. The new office will bring employees together with customers, users, developers and partners, according to posts from three OpenAI executives.

Emma Redmond, Head of OpenAI Ireland, announced the site and recruitment plans on LinkedIn. She said the investment was intended to extend beyond the company’s own operations. “Our new EU HQ and continued investment will help ensure that the benefits of AI reach communities, businesses and institutions here and across the region,” Redmond wrote.

OpenAI has not provided a breakdown of the 250 positions or stated when the headquarters will open. The confirmed timetable covers job creation over the next two years.

Emmanuel Marill, Managing Director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at OpenAI, described the Tropical Fruit Warehouse as “a real convening place for talent and tech” in his LinkedIn post.

He added: “That’s why we’re creating 250 new jobs - to continue our momentum and help everyone benefit from AI.”

The company also intends to use the headquarters to support OpenAI for Ireland, a program working with builders, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises. No further access or participation details were included in the announcement.

Derek Nolan, who works in Global Affairs at OpenAI, connected the expansion to Ireland’s growing role in the company’s European operations. Writing on LinkedIn, he said: “Not only will our new EU HQ be somewhere our teams, customers, developers and partners can collaborate and showcase - it will strengthen initiatives such as OpenAI for Ireland, supporting builders, start-ups and SMEs to unlock the benefits of AI for everyone.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin recently met the OpenAI team, while IDA Ireland has supported the company’s presence in the country. OpenAI executives thanked Martin, IDA Ireland Chief Executive Michael Lohan and the agency for their involvement.

The headquarters will be located at the Tropical Fruit Warehouse in Dublin’s south docks. IPUT Real Estate Dublin Chief Executive Niall Gaffney welcomed OpenAI to the building in a response to Redmond’s announcement.