Professional services firm Deloitte is launching an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot designed to improve the efficiency of nearly 80,000 employees across the Middle East and Europe.
Dubbed PairD, the new AI chatbot has several capabilities, including generating code, text, and PowerPoint presentations. The chatbot was developed internally by Deloitte without reliance on any existing commercial AI developers like OpenAI, Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), or Meta (NASDAQ: META), according to Deloitte.
Analysts note that Deloitte’s decision to develop an AI chatbot from scratch signals an intention by the professional services firm to “maintain full control over its technological tools.” The company has previously indicated a desire to ensure the safe integration of AI into existing company processes.
“Our generative AI platform is part of long-term AI investment plans, as we continue to explore the potential that this technology could offer our firm, our clients and wider society,” said Costi Perricos, Generative AI lead at Deloitte. “A key focus for employers should be on how to use these new tools safely so that they can be applied correctly and create value.”
Details of PairD’s performance compared to mainstream AI chatbots are unavailable, but sources say that Deloitte’s offering may surpass its peers in accounting, finance, and legal tasks. Deloitte U.K. CEO Richard Houston said the internally developed chatbot can offer project management advice, create project plans from scratch, and offer suggestions on task prioritization.
Apart from its employees, Deloitte says it will make PairD available to the staff at disability charity Scope, requiring them to take a crash AI course to enable them to leverage the emerging technology.
PairD is not Deloitte’s first incursion into AI, as the firm had previously rolled out a Global Generative AI Market Incubator to support the development of novel generative AI prototypes. The firm has also dabbled in blockchain to improve its Know Your Customer (KYC) process while hiring scores of Web3 experts.
Professional services firms turn to AI
Deloitte’s peers are turning their attention to AI, forging high-profile partnerships with leading industry players, and making sizable investments.
In mid-2023, KPMG confirmed a $2 billion investment in Microsoft’s AI research, with pundits claiming that the move could net the firm $12 billion worth of returns after five years. The company says that an AI integration for KPMG Clara, its intuitive audit platform, could improve functionalities for its global teams.
“By further integrating data, automation, and AI enablement, our professionals can continue enhancing audit execution and deliver quality audits aligned to the standards while boosting the profession’s attractiveness,” said one KPMG executive.
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