Videos
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Accenture's 2024 Generative AI Outlook
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CES 2024: Human By Design Accenture Tech Vision Session
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Tech Vision 2020: Paul Daugherty Keynote San Francisco
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Accenture: Keep AI Experimentation Going
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Accenture's CTO Explains Leadership for Generative AI | CXOTalk #795
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Accenture CTO explains how AI will aid businesses, new jobs
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Author Lecture Series: Paul Daugherty and Arun Sundararajan
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The metaverse and its impact on the business world
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Human + Machine (Paul Daugherty, Accenture) | DLD Europe 18
Learn More About Paul Daugherty
Whether businesses should implement artificial intelligence tools into their operations is no longer a debate. How can organizational leaders ensure that their AI initiatives are effective, safe and include human intelligence as much as they do machine intelligence, and what will doing so mean for the future of work?
In a nearly 40-year career with Accenture, Paul Daugherty led such strategies for businesses large and small. A top executive during one of the most successful periods in the company’s history, he played a key role in its transformation to become a digital leader and the largest global technology services firm.
Recently retired as CEO of the Technology Group as well as Chief Technology and Innovation Officer – a role he originated – Daugherty oversaw 400,000 employees, led the acquisition and integration of over 60 companies and grew revenue from $25 billion to $40 billion. In 2023, he led Accenture’s $3 billion investment in data and AI to help clients rapidly and responsibly advance their use of AI, including generative AI, to achieve greater growth, efficiency and resilience.
An innovation visionary with a warm, thoughtful and accessible demeanor, Daugherty has advised boards, CEOs, and C-suite executives of many of the world’s leading organizations on their digital and cultural transformations during the most consequential period of tech advancement in history.
“It’s been amazing to have a front seat to witnessing the tech revolution through the lens of its global application to business, government and society,” says Daugherty, co-recipient of the Thinkers50 2023 Digital Thinking Award. “And now, generative AI has become the biggest breakthrough in AI history. It’s vital that leaders can plan for what’s next because what’s next will be even bigger.”
With insights drawn from decades as a hands-on practitioner and successful executive, Daugherty shows organizations how to use technology to solve business problems while demonstrating how both companies and real people are impacted.
Human + Machine: Supercharge Strategy by Filling In “the Missing Middle”
As AI tools continue to become more powerful and important to corporate strategy, Daugherty urges leaders to understand the crucial role humans play.
Co-author of the bestselling, just-updated book “Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI” (Harvard Business Review Press; Revised edition, September 2024), and “Radically Human: How New Technology Is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future” (Harvard Business Review Press, April 2022), he highlights “the missing middle,” the frequently untapped potential that exists when AI tools and human workers are brought together.
“Combining the best of humans and machines is something that is often left out of strategy conversations,” explains Daugherty, who founded Accenture’s cloud, AI and quantum businesses as well as the company’s venture capital arm, Accenture Ventures. “The real promise lies in pairing the best of human capability with the best of machines to create true superpowers.”
Providing executives with practical steps for leveraging an organization’s existing human talent with the latest cutting-edge digital tools, he demonstrates how to accelerate the creation of unique competitive advantages as work roles continue to evolve.
What it Means to Ensure Responsible AI and Why It’s Vital
As more organizations incorporate AI, Daugherty warns companies not to skip the critical step of ensuring their systems are responsibly designed and deployed.
Most leaders understand that responsible AI discussions are incredibly important to have, but many are unsure of where to start. Through keynotes and advisory arrangements, Daugherty outlines both the immense possibilities and potential dangers of AI tools, providing a practical primer for implementing common sense safeguards.
“AI tools can impact humans in many ways,” points out Daugherty, recipient of the 2019 FASPE Award for Ethical Leadership. “Which is why it’s so important to apply careful checks and balances at every step.”
Providing a clear understanding of what may be at stake if this increasingly urgent topic isn’t prioritized, he works closely with leadership teams to develop easily applicable procedures for creating responsible tools.
Applying the “Live, Learn, Teach” Leadership Ethos
On his journey from computer programmer to Accenture’s first CTIO, Daugherty has focused on leadership values that prioritize self-improvement as much as they do being able to clearly communicate strategy.
“My philosophy on leadership is ‘live, learn and teach,’” Daugherty explains. “First, you can’t be a great leader if you’re not living with purpose as the best version of yourself. Next, it’s important to be a learner, continuously learning and helping your organization learn. And finally, I’ve always thought of leadership as ‘teaching’ – the best leaders teach their teams through a clear vision and path to achieving success.”
Providing executives and high-potential managers with a down-to-earth leadership architecture, he shares immediately applicable methods to live with purpose, be a learner and teach colleagues how to forge a strategic road forward.
One of the world’s most uniquely qualified tech and leadership experts, Paul Daugherty is an invaluable resource to organizations of any size. He shows audiences why this moment of explosive growth in the development of artificial intelligence – a technology that’s existed for decades – is different and provides strategic tools and leadership philosophies for preparing to harness the next evolutions of AI.
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Daugherty led the strategic relationships with top leaders across the technology sector, including all of the major cloud, AI, and enterprise SW companies. He led Accenture Labs and directed its global research and development into emerging technology areas such as generative AI, robotics, quantum computing, blockchain, metaverse, and space technology, growing the largest intellectual property and patent portfolio in its sector.
Daugherty created a dedicated innovation group that not only designs and delivers transformational business and technology solutions but also invests in and partners with pioneering companies to pilot and incubate new technologies. He also led Accenture’s annual Technology Vision report and hosts its annual client Innovation Forum event and Innovation Council.
Daugherty has been named as one of ComputerWorld’s Premier 100 Technology Leaders; The Constellation Research Business Transformation 150; The AdWeek 50 Media, Marketing and Tech Executives; and LinkedIn Top Voices. He was also awarded the prestigious St. Patrick’s Day Science Medal by the Prime Minister of Ireland in 2022 for his contributions to AI. Daugherty is also a contributor and advisor to World Economic Forum (WEF), a member of the WEF Global Future Council on the Future of Artificial Intelligence and a regular Davos speaker.
Paul Daugherty is a passionate advocate for gender equality in the workplace and STEM-related inclusion and diversity initiatives. For more than six years, he has been a member of the board of directors of Girls Who Code, an organization that seeks to support and increase the number of women in computer science careers. He was awarded a 2017 Honorable Guys Who Gets It Award by the Institute for Women’s Leadership for his impact on growing women leaders both at Accenture and in the industry.
Paul Daugherty is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
Waves of Change: How Exponential Technology Innovation is Shaping the Future of Organizations
Technology has been advancing exponentially for decades and there’s no reason to think it’ll slow down. What will the continuing acceleration of tech innovation mean for the future of organizations? A trailblazing leader who has been at the forefront of such advancements for nearly 40 years is former Accenture Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and CEO of the company’s technology group, Paul Daugherty. In this fascinating session, Daugherty provides a gripping overview of the past, present and future of exponential technology innovation. Reviewing the last few decades, he brings audiences along for a look back at the most consequential period of tech advancement in history and what it has meant to businesses and society. Daugherty then discusses the conditions that have made this moment pivotal for the biggest breakthroughs in AI history. Finally, he brings together the advancements we’ve seen in the past with what we’re seeing now to outline how it has all coalesced to create a prosperous new era of tech-enabled businesses. Audiences will learn how exponential technology is shaping the future of organizations and will leave with practical steps leaders can take now to ensure their companies and workforces are strategically set up for competitive success for the years and decades to come.
Human + Machine: Supercharge Strategy by Filling In “the Missing Middle”
Artificial intelligence tools are becoming increasingly more powerful and important to corporate strategy. Are some organizations letting opportunities slip past by implementing tools like generative AI and taking humans out of the process? According to Paul Daugherty, former Accenture Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and CEO of the company’s technology group, seeing AI as a replacement for human workers leaves a lot of untapped potential on the table. In this eye-opening presentation, Daugherty draws on his bestselling book, the just-updated “Human + Machine,” to reveal “the missing middle” – the space that can be filled by pairing the best capabilities of humans with the best of machines, creating a truly supercharged strategic tool. Audiences will learn why this moment in AI development is different, what might be coming next and practical steps for leveraging an organization’s existing human talent with the latest cutting-edge technology to accelerate the creation of unique competitive advantages.
Applying the “Live, Learn, Teach” Leadership Ethos
Whether leading a company of dozens or one of thousands, the best managers are those who are as focused on company success as they are on their own growth. In this inspiring presentation, Paul Daugherty, former Accenture Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and CEO of the company’s technology group, shares his simple leadership ethos: live, learn and teach. A transformative leader and practitioner, Daugherty reveals his journey from coder to Accenture’s first CTIO. Responsible for 400,000 employees and overseeing an explosive era of competitive strategy and innovation that led to tens of billions in revenue growth, he outlines the secrets of what it takes to grow and communicate well. Audiences will learn immediately applicable methods to live with purpose, be a learner and teach colleagues your vision of the strategic path ahead.
The Responsible AI Primer: What It Is and Why It’s Vital
Today’s AI tools come with both immense possibility and potential dangers. How can organizations ensure they’re taking the necessary steps to deploy AI responsibly? In this ultra-timely session, Paul Daugherty, former Accenture Chief Technology and Innovation Officer and CEO of the company’s technology group, provides a primer for understanding responsible AI. From the basic starter question many have – “what does it mean to do responsible AI?” – to outlining why it’s so important to take the topic seriously, Daugherty’s presentation is clear and accessible to audiences of all technical skill levels. Attendees will leave with a clear picture of the vital importance of AI checks and balances, practical steps leaders can take to apply them, and an understanding of what may be at stake if this increasingly urgent topic isn’t prioritized.
Human + Machine, Updated and Expanded: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI
(Harvard Business Review Press; Revised edition, September 2024)
Radically Human: How New Technology Is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future
(Harvard Business Review Press, April 2022)
Harness Powerful Strategies and Leadership Lessons for the Next Evolution of AI
Recently retired as Accenture’s Technology Group CEO and first Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, Paul Daugherty has spent 40 years at the cutting edge of the most consequential time of tech advancement in history. With insights drawn from decades as a hands-on practitioner and successful executive, he shows leaders how their organizations can use technology to solve business problems while demonstrating how both companies and real people are impacted. An advisor to boards, CEOs, and C-suite leaders of many of the world’s leading organizations on their digital and cultural transformations, Daugherty can discuss a range of topics during board meetings, consultations, small group and one-on-one advisory sessions. Each program can be tailored to meet the needs and goals of your organization with the flexibility of virtual or in-person meetings. Topics can include but are not limited to:
- Human + Machine: Supercharge Strategy by Filling In “the Missing Middle”
- The Responsible AI Primer: What It Is and Why It’s Vital
- Applying the “Live, Learn, Teach” Leadership Ethos
Praise for "Radically Human"
Winner: 2023 Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award
"'Radically Human' offers a compelling blueprint for leaders to create business value while building a more human-centered, trustworthy, and sustainable society. A must-read!"
"In today's business world, the greatest challenge is that most Homo sapiens think linearly – but these people are playing the wrong game. 'Radically Human' offers a set of tools and frameworks to remind everybody that the business world is not linear, but exponential."
"Paul Daugherty and Jim Wilson provide a clear road map that enables leaders to build their future in a way that maximizes talent and human potential."
"Daugherty and Wilson take on the very important work of distilling today's complex and rapidly changing business landscape, [showing] how far the technology has come in transforming the traditional definitions of invention and innovation."
"'Radically Human' offers an exhilarating perspective on the next stage of our technology development, one that puts the human at the center of a more sustainable future."
"Leading organizations recognize the strategic role of technology in the reinvention of their businesses. 'Radically Human' offers an easy-to-understand primer on cloud, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies and provides a clear, compelling framework that challenges current thinking with a new human-centric mindset on innovation."
Praise for "Human + Machine"
Best Business Books of 2018 - Fortune CEO Daily
"…the authors bring to life the realities of modern management. Readers gain a tactile sense of how technology changes business over time and why 'the robots are coming' is no scarier an observation than ever before."
"'Human + Machine' shines new light on our burning need to reinvent nearly everything about the way we work. Daugherty and Wilson have hands-on experience leading these changes, giving this book an exceptional level of credibility and insight. Have your whole team read it before your competitors do!"
"A richly detailed guidebook that leaders need to capture the opportunities of AI and the fourth industrial revolution."
"Daugherty and Wilson advance the conversation we need to have about the future of computer and human collaboration . . . With grounded skill and enthusiasm, the authors have delivered a roadmap that welcomes us to a productive future."
"Daugherty and Wilson give a blueprint for a future in which AI augments our humanity . . . the book is a practical guide to understanding AI--what it means in our lives and how we can make the most of it."
"Daugherty and Wilson answer the fundamental question, how do we help our workforce transition into the age of AI? Without question, 'Human + Machine' is the handbook you need to move forward."
"A must-read for business managers who know AI should be a big part of their job but find the topic intimidating and confusing."
"'Human + Machine' is a roadmap to the future – read it if you're serious about understanding the impact of AI and how it is driving growth."
"'Human + Machine' shows how jobs and tasks can be rethought and redesigned such that people and machines achieve more effective, efficient outcomes together. The book's practical and valuable examples bring the future to life."
