KPMG and Microsoft enter a landmark agreement to put AI at the forefront of professional services

KPMG and Microsoft have announced a significant expansion of their global relationship that will reshape professional services across a number of business-critical areas including workforce modernization, safe and secure development, and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for clients, industries and society more broadly.

The industry-leading collaboration between the two global organizations includes a KPMG multibillion dollar commitment in Microsoft cloud and AI services over the next 5 years that will help to unlock potential incremental growth opportunity for KPMG of over US$12 billion. The expanded alliance will enhance KPMG client engagements and supercharge the employee experience in a way that is responsible, trustworthy and safe.

The Microsoft cloud and Azure OpenAI Service capabilities will empower the KPMG global workforce of 265,000 to unleash their creativity, provide faster analysis and spend more time on strategic advice. This will enable them to help clients, including more than 2,500 KPMG and Microsoft joint clients, keep pace with the rapidly evolving AI landscape and solve their greatest business challenges while positioning them for success in the future world of work.

As an early access partner for Microsoft 365 Copilot and Azure OpenAI Service, KPMG professionals will pilot the technologies with select business groups across the global organization, bringing together the increased capabilities of these tools with their experience, insights and sector expertise to enhance client engagements and accelerate digital solution development.

Bill Thomas, Global Chairman and CEO, KPMG International, said: “Our renewed and strengthened relationship with Microsoft is an exciting moment for our people and our clients. It will help harness the power of our multidisciplinary model by ensuring that our people always have the right expertise, skills, and tools to overcome challenges and provide the very best advice to clients. It will also help make KPMG a more agile and resilient business that continues to be an interesting and exciting place to work.

This expansion of our global alliance builds on the combined power of two world-class organizations that share a common set of core values, working together to responsibly use cutting-edge cloud and AI technologies. KPMG is embracing the future, and we believe that AI is key to unlocking sustainable growth in a way that will build a better future for our people, our clients and society.

Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft, said: "We have a real opportunity to apply this next generation of AI to help transform every industry, including professional services. Our expanded partnership with KPMG will bring together AI innovation across the Microsoft Cloud with KPMG's tax, audit and advisory expertise to empower its employees and unlock insights for its customers."

Jamal Fakhro, Managing Partner at KPMG in Bahrain, added “AI is rapidly becoming a driving force behind transformation within the marketplace, improving efficiency, fueling growth, while also posing new challenges and emerging risks. KPMG's partnership with Microsoft on a global scale serves as a key illustration of how strategic alliances can elevate service offerings, particularly in the realm of digital technologies. This collaboration is a clear testament to KPMG's dedication to innovation and our unwavering focus on delivering outstanding value for our clients.”

“We are excited to bring this alliance to Bahrain for the benefit of our clients. We are witnessing increased interest in AI from clients to help navigate large data sets to solve complex issues. Our data and AI teams are working on extremely exciting engagements as part of large transformation projects in the Kingdom, and this alliance will further strengthen our presence and capabilities in this important area”, stated Manav Prakash, Partner, Advisory leading KPMG’s Management Consulting practice in Bahrain. “