Macquarie Group rolls out GenAI chat tool globally

Macquarie Group has quietly rolled out "an internal equivalent of ChatGPT" to its staff globally, after developing a proof-of-concept last year.

Macquarie AI Chat, as the tool is called, was put through "a large-scale pilot with staff in early 2024" - receiving positive feedback - before being expanded globally from mid this year, according to chief digital officer Matthew Ellis.

Writing on LinkedIn, Ellis said that Macquarie AI Chat is now available to anyone in the organisation. It forms part of the organisation's plan to integrate AI capabilities into employee work life.

“Like many GenAI initiatives, it's been a winding journey of exploration and innovation," Ellis wrote.

“As of today, we have 5000 weekly active users on the platform, which has led to increased productivity and creativity across all our global businesses.

“In parallel to the product and technology delivery, we have invested heavily in skilling our people on how to use GenAI.”

Ellis wrote that Macquarie Group had trained “thousands” in the use of generative AI tools, and “run a global AI hackathon which had over 800 participants from every business division and support function across Macquarie.”

“The hackathon was inclusive of everyone and featured a non-technical stream for anyone to share their favourite use cases and prompts.”

Tapping new talent

In a separate Macquarie Group blog post, the company highlighted two employees who played "an integral role in the deployment of ... Macquarie AI Chat, and in the upskilling of our people to effectively use AI in their roles”.

Both work as part of the digital team within Macquarie’s Corporate Operations Group (COG). 

Former fashion designer turned service designer, Zoe Ellis said in the post, “We’re helping people unlock the benefits of GenAI for their unique roles and supporting them in developing skills in this area.”

“AI is dynamic and evolving, but it’s becoming an increasingly important skill for our people.

“We’re helping people unlock the benefits of GenAI for their unique roles and supporting them in developing skills in this area,” Ellis said.

Ellis added teams can use the chat tool “as a second set of eyes for their work, to generate technical and creative outputs, to streamline tasks and explore new avenues in their role."

“I use it for small tasks such as drafting communications from simple notes.”

“I also use it for larger-scale creative brainstorming to help me break out of my bubble and inspire new ideas,” Ellis said.

Jamie Hannen, senior manager for data and AI at Macquarie Group is helping lead the global rollout of the generative AI in the northern hemisphere.

“Every day I get tapped on the shoulder by someone who has found a new use case,” he said.

“We are on a learning curve, exploring a new way of working.”

He added he uses the tool “to create agendas and communications materials or to write emails.”

Those wishing to use the chat function must also undertake an e-learning module given the tool interacts with highly sensitive data.