Professional-services firm KPMG Ireland is to set up a new centre dedicated to artificial intelligence (AI), which is aimed at helping firms to prepare for EU legislation on the issue.

The firm said that the new EU AI hub in Dublin would lead to an extra 200 jobs over the next three years in AI and related areas – including risk, regulatory services, and cyber-security.

The hub, in Dublin’s IFSC, is a collaboration with software firm Cranium and Microsoft.

‘Regulatory challenge’

KPMG says that the centre will help businesses and organisations to prepare for the EU AI Act through “a simplified streamlined approach” that will assess a firm’s current readiness, as well as the levels of policies or controls in place, before giving them the tools to ensure that their initiatives “align with evolving legal and ethical standards”.

“Understanding that responsible AI is not only a business challenge, but also a regulatory and technical challenge, we are committed to helping clients put into practice end-to-end responsible AI programmes,” said Sean Redmond (director, KPMG Ireland).

“It is also important that organisations don’t see the impending EU AI Act as a blocker to innovation and ideation; instead, it provides the guardrails that enables organisations to experiment with AI and deliver value to their businesses and customers,” he added.