Microsoft and EY to Spend $1 Billion to Help Clients Adopt AI

Technology giant Microsoft Corp. and consulting firm EY are partnering to spend more than $1 billion to encourage their clients to launch major artificial intelligence projects.

The initiative is designed to help companies grow AI projects from the pilot stage into large-scale efforts, EY Global Vice Chair of Consulting Errol Gardner said in an interview. That’s when clients can “really receive a return on investment.”

Initially, the companies will focus on finance, tax, human resources and supply chain work, according to an emailed statement. That’ll be within the financial services, industrials, energy, consumer and retail, government and healthcare sectors.

There’s ...