Accenture and Google Cloud launched a joint business group on Tuesday aimed at helping enterprise clients deploy agentic AI, anchored by a workforce of up to 1,000 forward-deployed engineers who will work on-site with customers.
The new unit, called the Accenture Gemini Enterprise Business Group, operates as part of Accenture and taps into the firm's bench of nearly 50,000 professionals with Google Cloud expertise. Google Cloud will provide training to the forward-deployed engineers, known as FDEs, so they can design and develop bespoke AI applications on the Gemini Enterprise platform, the companies said. A small contingent of Google Cloud's own FDEs will also participate in limited engagements with top-tier customers, according to the Wall Street Journal.
FDEs are stationed directly within client organizations rather than working from their employer's offices — an approach Palantir made famous that has since been widely embraced by AI companies and major tech players seeking to speed up enterprise adoption. The push reflects a broader industry challenge: nearly four years after the debut of ChatGPT, enterprises continue to struggle to integrate AI tools into their operations in ways that produce measurable returns, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"Clients want clear value and they're stuck," Accenture CEO Julie Sweet said. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said in a statement that the new group "significantly expands the expertise and resources available to help our customers deliver real business value."
The group will prioritize four areas, the companies said: expanding adoption of Gemini Enterprise through implementation frameworks, building industry-specific solutions, bridging the gap between AI experimentation and large-scale deployment through dedicated capability centers, and driving broader use of Gemini Enterprise tools.