Accenture PLC - ACN STOCK NEWS

Accenture has made a strategic investment in Cresta, an AI platform developer for contact centers, through Accenture Ventures. The partnership will integrate Cresta's AI capabilities into Accenture's AI Refinery™️ platform. Research indicates companies applying generative AI to customer initiatives can achieve 25% higher revenue over five years compared to those focused solely on productivity.

Cresta's AI solutions provide real-time agent coaching, insights, and virtual agents to improve performance and customer satisfaction. The platform has been adopted across retail, financial services, telecommunications, and healthcare sectors. Cresta was recently named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™, receiving top scores across 15 criteria.

Accenture has announced new generative AI-powered cybersecurity services and capabilities to enhance business resilience. The company reports a 223% increase in deepfake-related tool trading on dark web forums in Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023. New services include Secure AI Solutions, Deepfake Protection, Business Cyber Crisis Recovery, and Quantum Security Suite. The company is expanding its global network with new Cyber Future Centers and has grown its cybersecurity workforce by over 30% to more than 25,000 professionals in 2024. Core cybersecurity services powered by Accenture mySecurity aim to achieve 30-40% cost reduction through modernization and automation.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and ETS announce a collaboration to create a new global talent management solution, combining ETS's AI-enabled Futurenav™ with Accenture's LearnVantage platform. The initiative aims to address the global skills gap through skills-based learning and assessment.

The solution will help organizations measure employee skills and match workers with relevant positions, focusing on both durable and technical skills in an AI-first economy. According to World Economic Forum research, 50% of the global workforce needs upskilling or reskilling, potentially reaching 90% by 2030, with failure to address this potentially resulting in a $15 trillion GDP loss.

Accenture, Microsoft, and Avanade are launching a Copilot business transformation practice to help organizations implement AI technologies. The initiative includes a team of 5,000 professionals supported by Microsoft specialists and access to over 50,000 Microsoft Copilot-trained professionals. Early results show significant impact: Repsol employees are saving an average of 121 minutes per week, with maintenance roles saving up to 225 minutes weekly. The partnership focuses on developing industry-specific Copilots, custom solutions, and AI-powered workflows, with Accenture planning to expand its Microsoft 365 Copilot users from 100,000 to approximately 200,000.

Accenture has launched the Center for Advanced AI Kyoto, a cutting-edge facility focused on empowering clients with AI technologies, particularly generative AI, to drive organizational reinvention. The center features three key areas: business creation through human-AI collaboration, service co-creation using AI and data, and research and development through global partnerships. The facility is equipped with Central AI, which manages operations and appears as a robot guide. Accenture has also signed a comprehensive collaboration agreement with Kyoto University to advance AI leadership, responsibility, and talent development.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Kyoto University have announced a comprehensive collaboration agreement focused on advancing human-centered AI. The partnership aims to combine Kyoto University's expertise in behavioral economics, psychology, and philosophy with Accenture's business acumen to develop breakthrough AI research and applications.

The collaboration will be centered at the Accenture Center for Advanced AI Kyoto and includes joint research initiatives in leadership impact analysis, behavioral economics applications, responsible AI development, and Multi-Agent Large Language Models. The partnership also emphasizes developing AI-skilled research and business leaders while promoting responsible AI standards and governance globally.

Accenture's 'Destination Net Zero' report reveals only 16% of the world's largest companies are on track to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, while 45% saw increased carbon emissions. The analysis of 2,000 major companies shows that while net zero target-setting has stalled at 37%, 52% have reduced both emissions and emissions intensity since 2016. AI adoption for decarbonization remains low at 14%, with AI-related emissions projected to increase 10-fold by 2030. European companies lead in net zero targets (64%) and AI adoption for decarbonization (20%), significantly outperforming Asia Pacific and North American counterparts.

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Allitix, a consulting and technology company specializing in Anaplan solutions for financial planning, sales performance management, and supply chain. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Irvine, California, Allitix brings 73 employees, including over 60 Anaplan specialists, to Accenture Technology in North America. The acquisition strengthens Accenture's connected planning capabilities and enhances its ability to help clients standardize planning practices across business functions for improved agility, productivity, and data-driven decision making. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Accenture has invested in 1910 Genetics, a biotech company specializing in AI-driven drug discovery. The collaboration aims to accelerate drug development and reduce costs in the biopharma industry through 1910's proprietary Input-Transform-Output (ITO™) platform. This multi-AI agent system uses federated learning and three proprietary data streams to enable high-precision target identification and molecule design optimization. The partnership combines Accenture's enterprise AI scaling expertise with 1910's technology to transform traditional R&D processes and improve drug discovery efficiency. As part of the agreement, Accenture executives will join 1910's Business and Technology Advisory Boards.