Accenture has announced the launch of Regenerative AI. The program aims to help disadvantaged communities across the UK to build AI skills. As a major employer within the UK and with growing calls for increased diversity in consulting firms, this program could benefit the wider UK and Accenture.
In the UK, it is estimated that 8.5 million adults lack basic digital skills. The challenge is that with the rise of Generative AI and now Agentic AI, these digital skills will be critical to help create jobs to replace those that the new forms of AI are likely to eliminate.
Upskilling people has huge benefits. Accenture’s “Work, workforce, workers: Reinvented in the age of generative AI” report included an analysis showing that where businesses develop people-centric AI solutions, they could create an additional $10.3 trillion in economic value by 2038.
AI programs need to be people-focused
Organisations must put people at the heart of their AI programs, but there is a challenge. 95% of workers see value in working with gen AI. However, their top concern is that they don’t trust organizations to ensure positive outcomes for everyone. (Source: Accenture Change Workforce Survey (Oct-Nov 2023): Sample size=5,000 workers)
Accenture has announced the initiative to turn over 1,000,000 people from disadvantaged communities to address this challenge. It aims to achieve this with the support of employee volunteers, partners, and organisations already working in communities. The aim is to provide access to devices, data and AI literacy courses.
People-centric is where organizations adopt gen AI responsibly at scale in ways that place people and innovation at the heart. Effectively, it means that through training and adopting AI to support people over time rather than replace them, firms can innovate to ensure that jobs are maintained.
Accenture estimates this should take ten years. The problem is whether business leaders want to do that or prefer to replace people with AI faster to maximise profits.
Shaheen Sayed, Head of Accenture in the UK, Ireland & Africa, said, “In just a short period of time, Generative AI has already shown that it has the potential to bring enormous economic gains for the UK. The true accelerator for AI will be people and equipping the UK’s current and future workforce as well as the wider community with the skills to use it.
“With millions of people in the UK still lacking basic digital skills, the need for action to bridge this gap has never been more important. Working hand in hand with our partners, we are not just aiming to close the digital divide but fostering a more inclusive and thriving economy.”
What is Regenerative AI
Accenture has created Regenerative AI as an initiative with four focus areas. Each focus area will deliver education and mentorship to adults of all ages. It will be free of charge across the UK.
Young people in education
Volunteers from Accenture UK will undertake delivery of Generative AI lessons. They will target hundreds of schools in social mobility cold spots. The intent is to provide role models whilst providing a better understanding of how to use and work with generative AI. It will also prepare the next generation for a career in technology.
Accenture will work with early tech careers inspiration charity Tech She Can. It is a non-profit that has already helped to reach over 50,000 children in schools across England in partnership with Accenture. To date the charity has helped half a million.
Job seekers
Accenture, Stay Nimble, a UK-based social enterprise, and the Open University have built a course called Thrive AI. It will educate job seekers about Generative AI. The aim is to enable these job seekers to have a better knowledge of AI. Employers desperately seek that skill set, which will open opportunities for them.
The initiative will provide a dedicated career coach and a deeper understanding of how to use GenAI tools effectively. It will also focus on helping people retain a sense of their authentic self and helping them stand out.
Workers
In partnership with FutureLearn, Accenture has built several online courses to give a better understanding of AI. The latest ‘Digital Skills AI’ course, featuring online mentor support, introduces learners to the concepts of Generative AI. It also look at how it impacts the world and workplace. People taking the course will learn how to identify gaps in their current skills they can develop to help further their career.
Accenture has already trained 600,000 of its employees worldwide about the fundamentals of AI. This provides a significant core of trainers with the skills to volunteer as part of this program. In addition, Accenture launched LearnVantage, a comprehensive AI-native technology learning and training service.
Our wider community
Accenture is partnering with Good Things Foundation, the UK’s leading digital inclusion charity, to spread education about AI wider. The aim is to improve the education around AI for disadvantaged adults in the UK. It will achieve this through over 5,000 community hubs in the National Digital Inclusion Network.
Accenture will initially train 1,000 community leaders and volunteers to deliver the courses in the future. Accenture will also support participants with access to mobile data and devices through this partnership. What isn’t clear is how it will achieve this.
Helen Milner OBE, Chief Executive, Good Things Foundation, said “Accenture’s expertise in Generative AI and skills development makes them a great ally in helping us to overcome new barriers, supporting our mission to eradicate digital exclusion.
“Our partnership will lead the way in the UK, demonstrating how industry can work together with charities to address ever-evolving challenges faced by disadvantaged people. Our programme will support thousands of people to understand how they are currently using AI, and how it can support them.
“Working with our community partners in the National Digital Inclusion Network, we will help to get AI on the nation’s curriculum, ensuring that people can access the support they vitally need.”
Where will the money come from, and how much?
What is missing from this announcement is any idea of the cost and how much Accenture has pledged to finance these initiatives. With the government still working out exactly what money it has and how to allocate it, will it support Accenture? How much will Accenture provide as it seeks to raise the populace of the UK to greater digital literacy?
Minister Sir Chris Bryant said, “AI is poised to be a transformative force and ensuring people have the digital skills to match these opportunities is key to unlocking its potential and creating a workforce fit for the future. That’s why it is so important that these opportunities are available to everyone.
“The statistics are disturbing. Women make up less than 30% of the tech workforce whilst those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds account for less than 10%.
“This government is committed to closing the digital skills gap and breaking down barriers to careers in tech and I welcome Accenture’s ‘Regenerative AI’ initiative which recognises the importance of this goal. I encourage other businesses to follow suit and help us ensure the benefits of technology are geared not just towards a growing economy but an inclusive economy too.”
Enterprise Times: What does this mean
This is a huge CSR initiative from Accenture, though there is a lack of detail around the costs and funding of it. What is interesting is that there is a positive angle for Accenture. As it looks to fill its ranks with a more diverse workforce to meet the challenges of the future, these initiatives could provide it access to a new source.
As the education programs roll out, it will be interesting to know whether its success is measured. Not just in terms of people completing the education, but also whether the participants have found or retained jobs.
THis article was updated to accurately reflect the work that Accenture had already done with Tech She Can, and the work that the non-profit has done alone