Microsoft helps ANZ roll out AI

Microsoft has worked with ANZ to embark on a program to expand its use of AI across its operations.

After trialing Copilot for Microsoft 365 with a subset of employees as part of an early access program, ANZ has now expanded its use of the technology with an additional 3,000 licences.

Deploying the generative AI service has changed how its employees work, driving productivity and enhancing their ability to connect meaningfully with colleagues.

At ANZ, Copilot for Microsoft 365 is becoming an essential tool for executives, helping them manage their day-to-day responsibilities with greater efficiency and focus.

This includes the deployment of GitHub Copilot to 3,000 software developers and engineers.

The banking group has also identified Copilot for Microsoft 365 as a key tool for enabling its employees to explore generative AI.

By leveraging AI, leaders are finding that they can streamline routine tasks, freeing up valuable time to concentrate on more strategic and human-centric activities.

Jo Hayes, CIO of group services, technology at ANZ, describes Copilot for Microsoft 365 as a “daily boost”.

“I use Copilot to summarise my actions from the previous day, review meeting notes in a Copilot summary (which may sit across multiple pieces of content) and quickly identify my focus areas for the day,” she said.

The technology has also been instrumental for ANZ’s integration of 3,000 Suncorp Bank employees and its 1.2 million customers to the group following its acquisition of the bank in July 2024.

By using generative AI tools like Copilot, the banking group is making this process faster, while driving greater consistency and accuracy.

“We’re finding we can become 80 per cent more efficient by using generative AI on this process, which is saving us a huge amount of person-hours and increasing our consistency significantly,” said Hayes.

ANZ has also partnered with Microsoft to launch an AI Immersion Centre at its Melbourne headquarters – a first for the banking sector in Australia and New Zealand.

The centre is designed to accelerate the adoption of generative AI at scale by providing ANZ employees with hands-on learning experiences.

Initially, the focus will be on building AI literacy among senior leaders, so they can spearhead AI adoption throughout the organisation.