With her company’s $3 billion in new generative AI bookings for fiscal year 2024, Accenture Chair and CEO Julie Sweet was uniquely qualified to speak on transformative enterprise solutions at CES® 2025. In her conversation with CNBC's Senior Media & Tech Correspondent Julia Boorstin, Sweet shared how businesses can responsibly scale AI to reinvent their operations and customer experience.  

The keynote kicked off with a look at Accenture’s just-launched AI Refinery™ for Industry. This collection of 12 AI solutions, built with NVIDIA AI Enterprise software, help businesses quickly deploy AI agents to improve efficiency and solve unique challenges in their fields, driving faster results and greater value using the company’s own data.  

Sweet explained the technology by equating it to the human brain. All brains have the same basic structure and work the same way –– and then we learn. What Accenture’s done with its Refinery solutions, essentially, is create a “brain” that empowers AI to learn specific companies. 

Sweet noted that the solution had already been used at Accenture at scale to retool processes in the marketing department. To develop a new thought leadership piece, for example, the digital agent can look at what’s been said in internal documents and externally about the topic, review existing publications to avoid duplication, and offer feedback. “My favorite part: It judges me!” Sweet said, noting that the agent can assess when drafted content isn’t differentiated enough from previous communications or common insights in the industry. This has dramatically transformed the creative process.  
 
To use these tools, or any other AI solutions, requires trust –– a concept Sweet sees as having “two dimensions.” Trust is developed when tools “really work,” which we discover by using them. And secondly, there’s “an emotional side of trust,” Sweet said. That component involves empathy and having the answers to questions like “will this tool take my job?”. Sweet noted that leaders must consider both dimensions when implementing change and adopting AI solutions.  

“If you get those two pieces right, you will really accelerate your ability to reinvent what you’re doing,” Sweet said. “It’s incumbent on us as leaders to actually bring people along on that journey.” 

That journey also involves changes to the workforce. As technology evolves, companies will need talent with different skills than before. Sweet said that these shifts do not need to create mass layoffs (while some workforce reductions are inevitable). Now, the challenge is for employers to focus on upskilling and reskilling employees, a task Accenture’s LearnVantage program is already helping with. Ultimately, it’s about “being intentional and strategic with your talent,” Sweet said.  

The conversation then turned to two top-of-mind AI topics: security and regulation. “AI is one of the best tools to make us all more secure,” Sweet said, noting that human error is still the No. 1 cause of security issues. On the regulation front, Sweet called for greater consistency and policy uniformity on a global scale.   

Next, Boorstin touched on the partnership between Accenture, NVIDIA, and KION, which has been garnering a lot of attention. The three innovation leaders jointly showcased the “warehouse of the future” at CES, which is being called “the first large-scale use of physical AI.” The solution is projected to reduce manual labor, operating costs, and planning and optimization by as much as 50%. Sweet noted several struggles companies currently face at their warehouse facilities (including a lack of workers) that this innovative approach can solve.  

The keynote concluded with Sweet encouraging company leaders to tap into this incredible moment of innovation, reflect on what they’ve learned over the years, and focus on people while dreaming big.  

“As we move forward, it does matter looking back. We have always succeeded when we start with people and we understand how people will experience things.” 

Why It Matters 

Accenture's innovative AI solutions are revolutionizing how businesses operate, making processes more efficient and tailored to their unique needs. By fostering trust and focusing on upskilling, companies can navigate technological advancements without fear, ensuring a brighter future for their workforce. This moment of innovation is a call to action for leaders to dream big and prioritize people, driving meaningful change in the industry. 

Key Takeaways 

• AI Refinery for Industry: Accenture's new AI Refinery™ offers 12 industry-specific AI solutions to enhance efficiency and solve unique challenges, driving faster results and greater value. 

• Trust in AI: Building trust in AI involves ensuring tools work effectively and addressing emotional concerns, such as job security, to foster acceptance and adoption. 

• Workforce Evolution: As technology evolves, companies must focus on upskilling and reskilling employees to meet new demands, ensuring a strategic and intentional approach to talent management. 

• Security and Regulation: AI can enhance security by reducing human error, and consistent global regulations are needed to streamline compliance and reduce costs. 

• Innovative Partnerships: Collaborations, like the one between Accenture, NVIDIA, and KION, are driving groundbreaking solutions such as the "warehouse of the future," which significantly reduces manual labor and operational costs.