Accenture and Google Cloud are creating a joint unit to embed AI engineers in enterprises

Google has reportedly partnered with Accenture to assist customers in deploying Google Cloud's agentic artificial intelligence platform. This collaboration, as reported by the Wall Street Journal on September 8, is seen as a response to the growing demand for companies to derive tangible business value from generative AI. As part of this initiative, Accenture's Gemini Enterprise Business Group has been established, which will be staffed with up to 1,000 Google Cloud-trained forward-deployed engineers (FDEs).

These FDEs will be tasked with working on-site with customers to plan and develop AI applications on the Gemini Enterprise platform. Google Cloud's CEO, Thomas Kurian, stated that there is a need for experts who can help customers with these tasks. This partnership comes in line with a broader trend among AI companies of embedding their technologists within customers' offices to facilitate faster, more effective AI deployments.

Accenture's CEO, Julie Sweet, emphasized the importance of clear value and measurable impact for their clients, stating that many organizations are struggling to see the benefits of AI due to a lack of necessary infrastructure and expertise. Google Cloud's role in this collaboration is seen as a crucial step in helping clients overcome these challenges and realizing the full potential of AI investments.