Accenture prepares $3bn AI investment

The firm said it would invest in assets, tools, ventures, acquisitions, talent and partnerships to develop new skills and capabilities across its diagnostic, predictive and generative AI work.

As a result, Accenture said it expected to double the number of employees working in its data and AI practice to 80,000.

Accenture will also create accelerators for data and AI readiness across 19 industries, as well as pre-built industry and functional models that include generative AI capabilities.

The company said it would invest in new and existing relationships across its cloud, data and AI ecosystems, for example, developers using pre-built models to enhance prototyping or creators building dynamic virtual environments that can adapt with real-world changes.

In addition, the company has set up an AI Navigator for Enterprise, which is a generative AI-based platform that will help clients define business cases, make decisions, navigate AI journeys, choose architectures and understand algorithms and models.

Accenture has also formed a Centre for Advanced AI to increase usage of the technology across clients and within Accenture, including research and development and investment in service delivery.

Julie Sweet, chair and chief executive at Accenture, said: “There is unprecedented interest in all areas of AI, and the substantial investment we are making in our data and AI practice will help our clients move from interest to action to value, and in a responsible way with clear business cases.

“Companies that build a strong foundation of AI by adopting and scaling it now, where the technology is mature and delivers clear value, will be better positioned to reinvent, compete and achieve new levels of performance.”