KPMG is actively piloting AI agents, focusing on making these technologies secure, practical, and adaptable for tasks that assist their internal teams, particularly in auditing. Swami Chandrasekaran, who leads KPMG’s AI and Data Labs, emphasized the firm’s cautious approach; they are exploring the potential of AI agents to perform specific functions without rolling out any tools into production yet. This exploration aligns with KPMG’s aim to position itself at the forefront of AI usage within consulting, focusing on how these agents can enhance team workflows without fully autonomous control.
The firm has also made a minority investment in Ema, a startup specializing in AI agent platforms. Ema’s technology is designed to help users create AI-driven agents tailored for business tasks, adding flexibility and efficiency without sacrificing oversight. KPMG’s investment in Ema, though undisclosed in amount, is a strategic move to support the development of action-oriented assistants that seamlessly integrate with human-led workflows. This investment reflects KPMG’s commitment to controlled innovation in AI, in contrast to rivals like Deloitte, which recently partnered with Pramata for AI-based contract management and analytics solutions.
Chandrasekaran highlights that these AI agents represent “the next wave” in AI innovation but stresses the importance of “guardrails” to prevent unintended autonomous actions. Through KPMG Ventures, the firm is funding early-stage AI startups that align with its mission of augmenting human work without sacrificing accountability. This layered approach to AI deployment showcases KPMG’s strategy: pioneering technological adoption while keeping human oversight at the center of AI advancements.
Full story at CFO Dive.
