Shaping AI at BDO
Guided by Purpose, Empowering People, Built Responsibly
At BDO, AI is designed to elevate human capability, not replace it.
We believe successful innovation begins with our people. AI is no exception. Its real value is unlocked not just through technology itself, but through the ability of our professionals to adapt, collaborate, and create with it. That is why we equip our people with the skills, training and supportive culture they need to experiment responsibly and use AI with confidence.
By listening closely to our people – understanding their aspirations, addressing their concerns, and identifying where technology can make the greatest impact – we ensure that AI strengthens both our business and the profession.
With the support from leadership and learning programmes firmly in place, AI has become a partner for growth. Our people are upskilling their AI literacy, embracing new AI opportunities, and enhancing overall efficiency.
We began by asking: how can AI make our people’s work more meaningful, not just more efficient? Everyday AI was born as a strategic initiative to embed AI into our daily tools, workflows, and decisions - positioning our people not just as technology users, but as co-creators shaping its impact across our global network.
Since 2023, BDO firms worldwide have made real progress in AI enablement. Copilot pilots support drafting and analysis, custom developments guide teams through methodology and resources, and AI-enabled data models deliver consistent, trusted insights. These milestones mark our shift toward a more automated, augmented, and adaptive future.
Everyday AI reflects the BDO advantage: people-first, practical, and responsible adoption that elevates human capability rather than replacing it. With Microsoft as a strategic partner - and supported by maturity assessments, firm-level inventories, and our Responsible AI Playbook - we are building the guardrails that make AI safe, ethical, and scalable.
Our focus today is on unlocking value in the everyday. The most powerful AI solutions are those that improve workflows, generate insights, and elevate collaboration immediately. By enhancing the capacity of our professionals, Everyday AI enables them to apply judgement, strengthen client relationships, and deliver trusted services.
At the same time, we are laying the foundations for the future. Our $1 billion global investment in AI underlines our ambition to move beyond fragmented adoption towards coordinated global partnerships, procurement, and enablement - delivering growth, efficiency, and resilience across the network.
Everyday AI is only the beginning. As we evolve toward becoming truly AI-native - where AI is embedded in how we learn, serve, and grow - we combine strong foundations with resilience, responsible use, and global partnerships to create lasting value for our people, our clients, and our profession.
BDO aims to foster trust and confidence among its stakeholders, safeguard security, and contribute to the positive impact of AI on its people, clients and communities.
To build that trust, BDO has adopted a Responsible AI Policy comprised of seven Responsible AI Principles, emphasising the ethical, governance and security safeguards that are vital to manage the risks and capture the benefits associated with the design and application of AI technologies.
These principles underpin every AI application at BDO - from design to deployment – supporting safe, secure and values-aligned technology.
Our goal: Every AI tool at BDO earns the trust of the people who use it and the clients who rely on it
Responsible AI is a long-term investment in strategic resilience. It’s how we help our people and our clients adapt, thrive, and build competitive advantage – today and tomorrow.
We are deploying AI to help our professionals and clients solve their most complex challenges – from increasing audit accuracy to transforming tax advisory, and from managing risk to delivering hyper-personalised insights.
Our AI strategy aims to build a sustainable future that harmonises people, purpose and performance.
We believe in the power of innovation, but we also believe in taking a thoughtful, strategic and resourceful approach to AI and laying the appropriate groundwork to get it right.