Global IT consulting firm Accenture and consumer goods MNC Unilever are collaborating strategically to utilise Unilever’s AI research and technology implementation for enhancing productivity and driving efficiencies. This partnership aims to accelerate growth powered by AI on a large scale. 

The collaboration will commence at Unilever’s global AI Lab, “Horizon3 Labs,” located in Toronto. The focus includes exploring new applications to scale generative AI, utilising assets such as Accenture’s AI Navigator and proprietary “switchboard.” 

Last week, Accenture introduced a range of services to assist companies in tailoring and scaling the benefits of generative AI. The services included the proprietary generative AI model “switchboard,” customisation techniques, model-managed services, and specialised training programs. 

The switchboard enables users to select models based on business context or factors like cost and accuracy. These services aim to help clients swiftly access and contextualise enterprise data, supporting the transition from AI experimentation to scaled implementation. 

The offerings also include skills development and collaboration with academic institutions, such as the Foundation Model Scholar Program with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. The Hartford, in collaboration with Accenture, exemplifies how the insurance industry can benefit from generative AI in handling policy-related documentation.

These initiatives tap into Accenture’s $3 billion investment in data and AI, connecting Unilever with experts and leveraging Accenture’s ecosystem partnerships, ventures, and strategic investments within its Center for Advanced AI, comprising over 1,450 patents and insights from 300 generative AI projects.