Generative AI Becomes the Backbone of Office Work

Generative AI is transforming how work is done in Australian offices. It aims to address long-standing productivity challenges while also raising new concerns about data security and how employees adapt. Deloitte has introduced an internal AI assistant designed to streamline business processes and redesign workflows. It is already changing the way thousands of employees work each day.

For years, Australian businesses have faced stagnant productivity along with shifting employee expectations and demographic pressures. In this environment, generative artificial intelligence, or GenAI, is emerging as a vital tool. At Deloitte Australia, this shift began a year ago with the launch of MyAssist, an in-house AI platform that supports research, data handling and document drafting, among other tasks.

The platform started with 1,300 users and has since expanded to reach 12,000 employees nationwide. More than 50% of the organisation uses MyAssist daily, asking it over 3.6 million questions and generating close to 20 billion words so far. MyAssist boosts productivity by handling everyday queries and by streamlining specific work processes. It also meets strict compliance requirements since all data is stored securely within Australia.

A key strength of the platform is its ease of use. Every employee can access it, regardless of technical or coding knowledge. A three-step interface lets staff create simple AI tools. Those with more experience can build advanced applications with minimal programming. Teams have already developed internal tools such as a business case generator and a statement of work reviewer. These tools reduce administrative workload and help improve planning and design quality in early project stages.

Deloitte has identified around 100 high-impact use cases, with new ones emerging each week. Teams are using AI to complete audits more quickly, generate legal documents faster and translate text. They also summarise meetings and extract insights from interviews. These efficiencies save time, ranging from days to just a few hours in some cases. Looking ahead, the firm plans to expand features into voice recognition, intelligent task automation and image analysis.

GenAI not only speeds up existing processes. It also reshapes what tasks are done and how they are completed. For companies that hesitate to adopt these tools, the risk is not missing a trend. The real danger is falling behind competitors. MyAssist shows that GenAI is no longer optional for businesses that want to stay competitive.

Source: The Australian, Deloitte Australia, Capital Brief