What are Ethical AI and Responsible Technology? A Conversation with Accenture.

·54 min·5 clips

Paul Doherty, Accenture's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, reveals how a $65 billion company defines and implements responsible AI.

In episode 831 of CXOTalk, host Michael Krigsman interviews Paul Doherty, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at Accenture, on responsible technology and ethical AI. Doherty begins by outlining his role in setting technology strategy and launching Accenture's cloud and AI businesses. He shares Accenture's definition of responsible AI: taking intentional actions to design, deploy, and use AI to create value and build trust by protecting against risks. Doherty emphasizes that while many companies have principles, less than 2% have systemic compliance programs, highlighting a 'responsible AI gap'. He details four components needed to implement responsible AI: principles, processes and policies, tools and data, and culture and training. The conversation explores the shift from a computing era to a human era of technology, where AI becomes more invasive and trust becomes a critical differentiator. Audience questions from Twitter and LinkedIn address topics like why companies should care about ethical AI beyond regulations, with Doherty noting potential fines up to 3% of global revenue under the EU AI Act. He discusses global considerations, stating that ethics require adaptation to local cultures while maintaining foundational principles. Doherty critiques the 'human in the loop' concept, advocating for 'human orchestration' to ensure accountability. He shares that Accenture has 800 generative AI projects and $1 billion in generative AI sales in six months, emphasizing the need to move beyond narrow use cases to value chain views. The episode also touches on third-party data ethics, federated systems in healthcare, and the 'uncanny valley' in customer interactions. Doherty references Accenture's 'TQ' (technology quotient) training for 730,000 employees and research showing 95% of workers believe generative AI is good for them, but 60% feel anxiety due to lack of communication from leadership. He concludes that responsible AI is not in conflict with profit maximization but essential for driving value, and that leaders must learn first to address talent and trust gaps.

As heard by us

A grounded case for treating responsible AI as a measurable organizational capability.

Responsible AI lands here as an operating discipline, not a slogan. Paul Doherty, Accenture's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, frames his role around technology strategy and bringing innovation to clients, then connects ethical AI to the practical machinery behind it:…

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Want a clear route from responsible AI principles to policies, processes, tools, culture, training, and value?

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