Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and EY announced on Thursday a strategic partnership valued at more than US$1 billion aimed at helping corporate clients move artificial intelligence initiatives from experimental pilot programmes into large-scale deployment.
According to a statement released by the companies, the collaboration will initially focus on AI implementation across finance, tax, human resources and supply chain operations within industries including financial services, industrials, energy, consumer and retail, government and healthcare.
“There’s an intensity and urgency right now that we’re all feeling,” said Deb Cupp, Microsoft’s chief revenue officer for its global enterprise sales business.
“We want to align ourselves in a way that we can create outcomes more effectively for customers.”
EY Global Vice Chair of Consulting Errol Gardner said the alliance is intended to help businesses reach the point where they can “really receive a return on investment” from artificial intelligence projects.
The partnership will combine Microsoft’s AI technologies and engineering capabilities with EY’s sector expertise and organisational transformation services.
As part of the initiative, Microsoft will assign engineers to work directly alongside EY consultants on agentic AI projects developed for enterprise clients.