Accenture Honored for Ethical Leadership by Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE)

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has been awarded as this year’s Corporate Honoree for the Award for Ethical Leadership by the Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics (FASPE). The company will be recognized for its leadership in applying ethical principles to the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovative 21st-century technologies at FASPE’s annual gala and awards dinner on Monday, April 15 in New York City. Accenture is dedicating the award to its late CEO, Pierre Nanterme, who embodied the ethical principles that drive the company today.

FASPE is a non-profit organization which challenges graduate students and early-career professionals in business, journalism, law, medicine and religion to recognize and confront their ethical responsibilities by analyzing the decisions and actions of Nazi-era professionals. Each year, FASPE recognizes individuals and corporations whose actions reflect the behavior that is at the core of FASPE’s mission.

Accepting the award on behalf of Accenture will be Paul Daugherty, Accenture’s chief technology & innovation officer.

“Adopting a Responsible AI approach based on ethics and trust is no longer a ‘nice to have,'' said Daugherty. “An AI misstep can breach existing trust bonds between companies and workforces, customers and societies. It’s paramount for today’s business leaders to be designing their AI with responsibility and ethics at the forefront. We agree wholeheartedly in FASPE’s belief that all organizations have an increasingly important role to play in addressing ethical challenges amidst globalization and rapidly changing technologies.”

Accenture is committed to creating human-centric AI with the goal of understanding and addressing the social, regulatory and economic impact of this technology from development to deployment and beyond. The company offers its clients tangible and practical ways to address the many issues raised by integrating AI into their overall business strategy. A few of the tools Accenture has developed to help companies ensure a responsible approach include:

• AI Launchpad: an applied, interdisciplinary, innovation-friendly approach to evaluating, understanding and addressing “unintended consequences” when deploying safe and responsible AI models
• AI Fairness Tool: allows clients to robustly assess algorithm models and the data that underlies them to identify and correct for bias in both in-house developed AI and third-party solutions, helping companies manage their digital supply chain
• Teach and Test Tool: helps clients to validate and test their AI systems, including model debugging, amidst the need to “raise” AI systems so they act responsibly

“Ethics cannot be viewed as static. We are particularly challenged today as we confront new technologies that are often unpredictable in their impact,” said David Goldman, Founder and Chair of FASPE. “Through its focus on responsible innovation, Accenture is accepting that challenge by ensuring that ethical behavior is part of the conversation as new technologies are being developed and introduced. FASPE is honored to be recognizing Accenture for these efforts.”

Daugherty continued, “We dedicate this award to our late CEO, Pierre Nanterme, behind whose vision and ethical leadership Accenture continues to help clients innovate, grow and succeed.”

More information about Accenture’s work in AI and responsible AI can be found here.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions — underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network — Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 477,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

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