Nestlé has been chosen to join the Frontier Firm AI Initiative, a multi-year collaboration launched by the Digital Data Design Institute at Harvard (D^3) and Microsoft. The initiative brings together forward-focused organizations and academic minds to explore and shape the future of human-led, AI-driven business.  

The selection is a recognition of Nestlé's progress as an early mover in scaling AI company-wide. Building on years of integration of AI, automation and machine learning, Nestlé uses the technology throughout its business, from supply chain through to marketing and consumer engagement. This is supported by a digital 'backbone' at Nestlé: a single Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and strong data foundations.  

The inaugural members alongside Nestlé include Barclays, BNY, Clifford Chance, Dupont, Eaton, EY, GHD, Kantar, Levi's, Lilly, Lumen, Mastercard and others. The selected group of organizations are already realizing efficiencies and growth through AI, with the goal to further increase productivity, improve decision-making, and create more value.  

Chris Wright, Chief Information Officer at Nestlé, said: "AI isn't a pilot at Nestlé; it's already at work from farm to fork. AI helps us get ideas to market faster, optimize recipes, provide trusted nutrition and recipe advice, and create content for our digital channels. We use it to analyze supplier contracts and to sharpen planning, forecasting, and logistics. In our factories, digital twins are driving efficiency and sustainability every day. The key to success? Anchor AI in business needs, equip people with the right skills and intuitive tools, and build on unmatched tech and data foundations. That's how we keep raising the bar for what's possible for the benefit of our consumers, customers and employees." 

Nestlé continues to accelerate its digital transformation, rooted in business needs and focused on a comprehensive end-to-end overhaul of how work gets done. By reimagining operating models and leveraging automation, AI, and data-driven decision-making, Nestlé empowers teams to work smarter and faster across the entire value chain.  

Some examples of how AI is already making a difference at Nestlé:  

• Every Nestlé employee now has access to AI through Copilot Chat and more than 100 000 employees are now regular AI users, averaging more than 40 prompts every month. Enterprise-level agents continue to enhance the company's AI capabilities, providing insights and essential knowledge in an instant.  

• In procurement, Nestlé is applying AI analysis to the contract base of its suppliers. Many suppliers cover multiple markets, and AI enables the review of hundreds of thousands of contracts for inconsistencies between global contract terms and local application in markets, saving time and money.  

• Nestlé is evolving digital and automation across its global network of more than 300 factories, using AI for energy, asset, and performance optimization and food safety surveillance. That includes the use of virtual 'digital twins' of equipment and production lines.   

• In R&D experts have developed a new recipe optimization tool that helps product developers better meet consumer expectations while also managing ingredients, nutrition, cost and sustainability.

• AI-powered recommendation systems are helping personalize the consumer experience, suggesting products, services, and content based on consumer preferences. One example is Petivity, which leverages smart devices and predictive analytics to offer health insights for pets.