Accenture Launches Specialized Services to Help Companies Customize and Manage Foundation Models

Accenture has rolled out a set of new services designed to help companies customize and scale the value of generative AI.

“Generative AI is accelerating reinvention and delivering value to our clients’ businesses faster,” said Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture. “In order to move from experimentation to scaled implementation, our clients need a strong data and AI foundation, which is underpinned by large language models that are tailored to meet their specific business needs, along with the training needed for their people to use and manage those models. Our new foundation model customization services help our clients accelerate access and contextualize enterprise data to drive tangible value from generative AI.”

According to a recent Accenture’s survey: 74% of the C-suite plan to increase their AI-related spending in 2024, up from 50% in the previous year, as companies move from proof of concept to customizing foundation models with proprietary data.

This new set of Accenture gen AI services includes a proprietary gen AI model “switchboard,” customization techniques, model managed services and specialized training programs.

A proprietary “switchboard” allows a user to select a combination of models to address the business context or based on factors, such as cost or accuracy. For example, one of the largest entertainment companies is currently testing the switchboard to compare how the same prompt would be interpreted by different models and how they perform before deciding on which to use. The initiative also develops skills and capabilities to help clients effectively use and manage LLMs, including comprehensive training and certification programs.

“Companies that want to harness the power of generative AI will need an array of specialized models,” added Karthik Narain, group chief executive at Accenture Technology. “Our switchboard is designed to enable companies to do this at scale while managing costs and carbon footprint, aligning the right models to the business context. Our set of customization services can help companies contextualize AI models for their unique needs, transforming every link in their value chain.”

Accenture is collaborating with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI, and has created its Foundation Model Scholar Program to provide certifications related to large-language model skills. Accenture has more than 1,450 pending and issued patents in AI, including proprietary capabilities in generative AI, such as fine-tuning, prompt engineering and model architecture.

Channel Impact^®
The ability to customize generative AI models will enable partners to enhance work across the value chain, further positioning them for success in this rapidly emerging field.