Accenture declares AI is ‘mature and delivers value’ • The Register

Tech consulting big Accenture will make investments $3 billion over three years to develop its AI workforce to 80,000 individuals after it axed 19,000 jobs in March this 12 months.

Chair and CEO Julie Candy wrote in a Tuesday announcement that the funding is required as a result of “Firms that construct a powerful basis of AI by adopting and scaling it now, the place the expertise is mature and delivers clear worth, will probably be higher positioned.”

Candy’s declaration of AI as “mature” comes lower than a 12 months after the general public debut of generative AI providers like ChatGPT, and regardless of such instruments frequently producing inaccurate output. The CEO’s declaration was additionally made at a time when copyright and moral points round AI are completely unresolved, and governments are proposing regulation for the tech.

Accenture nonetheless thinks the time is now to double the headcount for its Knowledge & AI unit.

“There may be unprecedented curiosity in all areas of AI, and the substantial funding we’re making in our Knowledge & AI observe will assist our shoppers transfer from curiosity to motion to worth, and in a accountable method with clear enterprise circumstances,” Candy wrote.

Accenture additionally touted its AI Navigator for Enterprise platform – a instrument designed to assist shoppers work out tips on how to use generative AI instruments of their services, and perceive what fashions are best for his or her functions. In the meantime, the colossal consultancy’s Middle for Superior AI will conduct analysis and improvement to spend money on technological capabilities inside its personal group, in addition to others. 

The inheritor to the Andersen Consulting empire plans to create AI accelerator applications for 19 industries that may make use of off-the-shelf fashions.

“Over the subsequent decade, AI will probably be a mega-trend, remodeling industries, firms, and the best way we stay and work, as generative AI transforms 40 p.c of all working hours,” Paul Daugherty, group chief govt, Accenture Know-how, predicted in an announcement. 

“Our expanded Knowledge & AI observe brings collectively the complete energy and breadth of Accenture in creating industry-specific options that may assist our shoppers harness AI’s full potential to reshape their technique, expertise, and methods of working, driving innovation and worth responsibly and sooner than ever earlier than.”

The Knowledge & AI staff is predicted to double to 80,000 individuals – which quantities to a little bit over 10 p.c of Accenture’s whole workforce, given it says it has 738,000 workers working in over 120 nations. The choice to broaden comes simply three months after the company slashed 19,000 jobs in a spherical of layoffs that principally affected workers working in HR, finance, and authorized. ®