A major company is investing millions to enhance AI capabilities by launching an AI Centre of Excellence.
PwC is dedicating $11.5 million over the next year to develop its new AI Centre of Excellence, aiming to help Australian businesses navigate AI technology and compete globally.
CEO Kevin Burrowes emphasized the company’s commitment to AI transformation and trust, stating that this investment will unify AI skills to provide comprehensive solutions for business challenges.
This initiative will create up to 30 new jobs and promote AI adoption among PwC Australia’s staff and clients, adding to the current team of 320 specialists in data, advanced analytics, and AI.
New roles will span areas such as AI business analysis, software engineering, machine learning, data science, and risk management.
Despite 60% of Australian CEOs acknowledging the potential impact of generative AI, fewer than a quarter have begun adopting the technology. PwC Australia’s AI leader Tom Pagram highlighted the significant gap between AI adoption and ambitions, emphasizing the need for businesses to embrace AI to boost productivity.
PwC’s recent efforts include a $1 billion investment in the US to scale AI capabilities and partnerships with Microsoft and OpenAI. The company introduced AI tools like the PwC AI assistant and ChatPwC to support staff in their work.
Pagram noted that PwC Australia is actively testing new AI solutions within its operations to offer the best insights to clients. He also highlighted Australia’s strong AI talent, particularly in sectors like agriculture, mining, sustainability, and responsible AI.
