KPMG in Canada announced today it’s launching a new Agentic AI Engine to help Canadian organizations leverage digital agents that can operate independently, make decisions and perform tasks with minimal human intervention.
The firm is making significant investments in agentic AI platforms, tools and solutions as part of its commitment to develop made-in-Canada solutions at a time when the country faces productivity challenges.
“Agentic AI has the potential to revolutionize the way Canadian businesses operate. This is the most powerful form of AI in human history to date, and we believe it can help Canadian organizations boost efficiency by up to 30 per cent over the next three years by empowering higher output from teams and individuals working alongside digital agents,” said Stephanie Terrill, Canadian Managing Partner of Digital and Transformation at KPMG in Canada.
Addressing productivity challenges
According to company representatives, the technology investment comes as Canada struggles with productivity issues and trade pressures, creating an urgent need for digital solutions.
“Almost nine in 10 business leaders across the country have told us they see agentic AI as key to staying competitive, cutting operational costs and boosting profitability,” said Walter Pela, AI Client and Market Development Lead for KPMG in Canada.
The firm’s Agentic AI Engine will power the development of solutions for Canadian organizations, engage in research, and enable the deployment of digital agents across KPMG platforms and services.
Real-world applications
KPMG has already developed several AI agents including:
An underwriting agent that can reduce time spent on administrative tasks by approximately 40 per cent A customer service agent that can triage inquiries and complete customer returns A risk management agent that analyzes data to identify and assess potential risks An assessment agent that identifies areas for improvement within organizations An ESG due diligence agent that helps private equity firms analyze risks when identifying investments
Integration with existing platforms
The company is also incorporating AI agents into its tax and audit platforms. The firm’s Ignition Tax division will deploy AI agents into KPMG’s One Port and Digital Gateway platforms.
“Deploying AI agents through platforms like One Port and Digital Gateway will enhance the work of KPMG Tax and Law professionals with new digital workflows,” said Lucy Iacovelli, Canadian Managing Partner for Tax and Legal at KPMG in Canada.
For audit services, the company has embedded digital agents into KPMG Clara, its global smart audit platform.
“Digital agents embedded into Clara will deliver deeper audit insights and enable audit professionals to more effectively respond to risks,” said Sebastian Distefano, Canadian Managing Partner, Audit & Assurance.
Training and development
KPMG is adding agentic AI training to its Skills Development Centre, a collaborative initiative with Microsoft Canada. The centre has provided AI and cybersecurity training to more than 53,000 Canadians to date.
Internally, the firm is enhancing its proprietary generative AI platform, Kleo, allowing professionals to develop their own AI agents.
“Our expertise in building AI agents for clients starts with our own journey within KPMG. By building, testing and deploying agentic AI innovations internally as ‘Client Zero’ first, we can deliver solutions to Canadian organizations that are grounded in experience, trust, security and quality,” said Terrill.
KPMG Canada employs more than 10,000 people across more than 40 locations nationwide.
