Amid growing fears that artificial intelligence is taking away jobs, a new reality is emerging where AI could actually help employees secure promotions and future growth. Global consulting giant Accenture has made it clear that learning and regularly using AI tools will now play a crucial role in career advancement within the company. Accenture has begun tracking how frequently its employees use AI tools, and this data will be considered when deciding promotions, especially for leadership roles.
According to an internal email accessed by the Financial Times, the company has informed senior managers and associate directors that consistent adoption of artificial intelligence will be mandatory for promotion to higher positions. Reports suggest that Accenture has also started monitoring weekly logins to AI tools for some senior staff, highlighting how seriously the firm is pushing AI integration across its workforce.
Accenture has already made significant investments in upskilling its employees. The company previously revealed that around 550,000 of its 780,000 employees have been trained in generative AI. It has committed to training its entire workforce as part of an annual learning budget of $1 billion (£740 million), underlining AI as a long-term strategic priority rather than a short-term experiment.
One of the key platforms being tracked is Accenture AI Refinery, which CEO Julie Sweet has described as a tool that enables companies to rethink processes, adopt new ways of working, and scale AI solutions across their operations. The goal is to drive continuous transformation and create measurable business value through technology.
Accenture’s aggressive push toward AI is also reflecting positively on its business performance. The company reported better-than-expected results in its December quarter, driven largely by rising demand for AI-powered consulting services. This signals a broader industry shift, where companies are increasingly relying on machine learning and AI tools to boost efficiency, productivity, and innovation—making AI skills not just desirable, but essential for career growth.
