KPMG in Canada is bolstering its investments and capabilities in generative artificial intelligence (AI) by introducing proprietary tools, training, and solutions.
This initiative aims to enhance the productivity of the firm’s 10,000 professionals and deliver innovative and impactful solutions to Canadian organizations.
"Canada faces a significant productivity challenge, and we believe generative AI has enormous potential to help Canadian organizations improve their productivity,” said Stephanie Terrill, the AI executive leader and business unit leader of KPMG in Canada’s management consulting practice. "We are committed to helping businesses understand and utilize generative AI to its fullest potential, having witnessed firsthand how the technology can redefine our own work processes."
Terrill explained that KPMG acts as its own first client by testing new generative AI solutions internally. This allows them to refine their expertise before assisting clients in implementing AI solutions to address various business challenges.
The firm's recent investments in generative AI include several key initiatives, including launching a robust generative AI executive training program designed to enhance productivity, spur innovation, and deliver deeper insights to Canadian businesses. This program focuses on navigating the disruptive impact of generative AI, demonstrating KPMG's Trusted AI framework, exploring use cases, and emphasizing a human-centric approach to AI.
KPMG has also introduced education, training, and knowledge-sharing sessions for all employees, including immersive AI learning marathons known as "24 hours of AI." These sessions allow professionals to engage in continuous AI education alongside colleagues worldwide. Additionally, mandatory risk management training ensures responsible use of generative AI, complemented by self-guided learning modules.
KPMG has built Kleo, a generative AI knowledge management platform and chatbot, to improve its professionals' daily work experience. Kleo, developed in KPMG's private Microsoft Azure cloud environment using OpenAI's GPT-4 model, includes function-specific bots tailored to human resources, marketing, and IT.
KPMG has implemented and scaled Copilot, an AI-powered companion integrated into Microsoft 365 applications. Copilot streamlines workflows and improves efficiency by accelerating content creation, managing communications, and automating routine tasks. KPMG professionals in Canada are already using Copilot internally, and the firm is an early access partner for Copilot for Microsoft 365 in Canada.
In collaboration with Microsoft Canada, KPMG expanded its executive training centre to include generative AI and cybersecurity training. This centre offers programs for CEOs, board directors, and small and medium-sized business owners, helping them understand and leverage the potential of generative AI.
KPMG is piloting a generative AI-powered platform for complex document reviews, aiding due diligence, contract management, and risk assessments. This tool, tailored for the legal and financial services sectors, ensures data security within clients' Microsoft Azure OpenAI cloud environments.
"The transformative power of generative AI promises to revolutionize organizations, business models, and industries," said Walter Pela, AI client and market development lead at KPMG in Canada. "By leveraging our multidisciplinary team of AI advisors and technologists and upskilling all our professionals, we're helping organizations harness the power of AI while safeguarding their data."