BDO's AI Team Wins Big, Proving Practical Innovation Drives Value

CHICAGO, IL – January 20, 2026 – In a move that highlights a significant shift in how professional services firms are harnessing artificial intelligence, BDO USA’s Research and AI Development (RAID) team has been named a winner of the 2026 BIG Innovation Award. The recognition, granted in the competitive Team category, celebrates the group’s success in moving beyond AI hype to deliver tangible, measurable results in the highly regulated accounting and advisory sector.

The award, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, honors organizations and leaders who are transforming industries through applied innovation. For BDO, this accolade validates a strategy centered not on chasing technology for its own sake, but on building a sophisticated engine for practical, purpose-driven AI development that directly enhances efficiency and client service.

An Engine for Practical Innovation

At the heart of BDO's recognized success is its RAID team, which functions as the firm's dedicated innovation incubator. Comprised of highly skilled technology professionals, the team operates as a crucial link between conceptual ideas and real-world application. Their mandate is to collaborate with firm leadership, identify high-impact opportunities, and rapidly develop, prototype, and test AI tools that align with strategic priorities.

This agile approach allows BDO to quickly validate new avenues for digital transformation and, crucially, to scale only those initiatives that demonstrate clear business value. In 2025 alone, the RAID team successfully launched over nine purpose-built AI agents. These tools were specifically designed to optimize internal workflows and augment the day-to-day activities of BDO professionals, ultimately freeing them to focus on higher-value client work.

“I'm incredibly proud of the RAID team for earning this recognition from the BIG Innovation Awards. This honor reflects their dedication and creativity in advancing AI at BDO,” said Mike Gerhard, Chief Data and AI Officer at BDO USA, in a statement. “RAID serves as a vital bridge between innovative ideas and practical solutions, developing AI tools for our firm and people that boost operational efficiency, elevate client service, and strengthen our competitive edge.”

This model marks a departure from lengthy, large-scale IT projects, favoring a more dynamic and results-oriented method of embedding AI into the firm’s operational fabric.

Redefining Innovation with Trust at the Core

The 2026 BIG Innovation Awards signal a broader industry trend that BDO’s win exemplifies. According to the Business Intelligence Group, which uses a panel of experienced business leaders as judges, true innovation is no longer about simply adopting the latest technology. Instead, it’s about its thoughtful and responsible application.

“The 2026 BIG Innovation Awards winners show that true innovation is no longer about chasing the latest buzzwords,” noted Russ Fordyce, Chief Recognition Officer at the Business Intelligence Group. “It’s about building intelligent platforms, automating workflows with purpose, and making trust, privacy, and resilience the foundation of every breakthrough.”

This emphasis on trust is particularly resonant in the accounting and advisory field, where firms are custodians of highly sensitive client financial data. The effective and ethical use of AI is not just a competitive advantage but a fundamental requirement for maintaining client confidence. BDO’s award-winning approach appears to address this directly by integrating AI development with a strong governance framework. Industry analysts note that leading firms are increasingly focused on creating 'Trustworthy AI' frameworks to manage challenges like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and security, a trend that this award highlights as a new benchmark for excellence.

Augmenting Professionals, Not Replacing Them

A key pillar of the RAID team's philosophy is a human-centric approach to AI. The tools they build are not designed to replace the expertise of BDO's accountants and advisors but to augment their capabilities. By automating repetitive tasks and providing powerful data analysis tools, these AI agents act as 'co-pilots,' empowering professionals to deliver deeper insights and more strategic advice.

This strategy directly addresses the future of work in professional services, where the role of the accountant is evolving from a data processor to a strategic advisor. AI handles the computational heavy lifting, allowing human experts to focus on critical thinking, client relationships, and complex problem-solving—skills that remain uniquely human.

“It’s been incredibly rewarding to collaborate with such a forward-thinking team, where every challenge sparks new ideas and breakthroughs,” commented Zak Fay, BDO USA’s AI Innovation Manager. “We’re excited to continue exploring the capabilities of AI and turn those innovations into solutions that shape the future of the firm.”

This collaborative spirit, combining technological prowess with deep domain expertise, is what enables the firm to enhance service delivery. Clients benefit from both the speed and accuracy of AI-driven analysis and the nuanced judgment of an experienced human advisor.

The Competitive Edge in a Transformed Industry

BDO's achievement does not exist in a vacuum. The entire professional services landscape, including the 'Big Four' firms, is undergoing a profound AI-driven transformation. Competitors are also investing billions in AI-powered platforms for audit, tax, and consulting, making the race for innovation fierce. However, BDO’s win suggests that a nimble, value-focused incubator model can provide a significant competitive advantage.

Experts believe the industry is at a tipping point. AI is enabling a shift from historical reporting to predictive analytics, from periodic reviews to continuous auditing, and from standardized services to hyper-personalized client advice. The challenge for all firms is to navigate this transition effectively, managing the risks associated with data security and ethical AI while also cultivating a workforce equipped with the necessary digital skills.

The recognition of BDO’s RAID team by the BIG Innovation Awards serves as a powerful case study for the industry. It underscores that the future belongs not to those who simply adopt AI, but to those who master its practical, ethical, and human-centric application to create sustainable value for their people and their clients.