KPMG Empowers Interns with AI Skills through Innovative Training in Florida

On a humid June morning in Florida, KPMG's training facility welcomed 90 tax interns tasked with mastering the nuances of artificial intelligence. The session reflected KPMG’s commitment to integrating AI into its practices and emphasized the importance of effective communication with AI systems. The training distilled AI interaction into five innovative prompting techniques, underscoring that successful AI engagement is more about linguistic precision than advanced technical skills.

In an air-conditioned classroom designed to foster engagement, the interns learned the art of query refinement with AI. Sherry Magee, a senior director at KPMG, highlighted that the facility’s configuration fosters collaborative learning. The session, led by KPMG employees, commenced with a broad query about the interns' spontaneous use of AI tools. The majority had embraced direct interaction without strategic prompting methods.

To enhance the quality of AI-driven outputs, the instructors introduced five prompting strategies: Chunking, Few-shot prompting, Iterative question refinement, Chain of thought prompting, and Flipped interaction prompting. Each method serves distinct functions, with Chain of thought prompting facilitating detailed output verification, especially valuable for tax professionals. Meanwhile, Flipped interaction prompting encouraged AI to pose questions back to users, fostering broader thinking.

At the state-of-the-art Lakehouse facility, the interns explored KPMG’s AI toolkit for tax processes, focusing on the Digital Gateway. Additionally, they delved into AI persona comprehension, strategies to mitigate AI hallucinations, and ethical principles integral to responsible AI usage. The interns were also coached on tailoring AI communication to specific audiences, a technique resonant of journalistic interview skills that prioritize concise yet detailed questioning.

This foundational training session largely centered on administrative applications, including drafting emails and creating presentation slide decks. These tasks, while fundamental, set the stage for more complex AI tasks undertaken by senior KPMG staff. Becky Sproul, a KPMG audit partner, explained how more experienced employees leverage AI for comprehensive industry analysis and preliminary audit memos. By processing client documentation alongside auditing and accounting standards, AI assists in crafting foundational memos, significantly advancing the preparatory stages of audits.

Furthermore, KPMG is developing AI agents that integrate into project teams, utilizing engagement metrics to incentivize AI usage among employees. This mirrors initiatives by other Big Four firms - Deloitte, EY, and PwC - as they implement AI platforms touted to enhance productivity across their operations.

While AI's capabilities are intricate, KPMG’s teaching methods illuminate how straightforward learning pathways can equip interns with impactful AI skills. Even amidst discussions on cutting-edge technology, interns engaged in traditional brainstorming on flipboards, illustrating the blend of old and new methodologies. The session emphasized the importance of periodic breaks from screens. The Lakehouse's wellness team introduced a brief interlude of physical movement, encouraging stretches and breath exercises to rejuvenate focus and concentration among the participants.

The training offered a clear lesson to future professionals in the AI landscape: balancing digital engagement with interpersonal interaction and self-care is crucial. Ultimately, the interns’ experience underscored KPMG’s commitment to nurturing a workforce capable of harnessing AI’s transformative potential.