Accenture has confirmed that employees who cannot adapt to artificial intelligence (AI) skills will be let go as part of its broader restructuring strategy aimed at embedding advanced AI across its global operations. Chief Executive Officer Julie Sweet said during a Thursday call that the firm expects its workforce to “retrain and retool” at scale, as AI becomes central to “everything we do.” She stressed that while the priority remains on reskilling, staff without a “viable path” for retraining will be “exited on a compression timeline.”

The company has already trained 550,000 employees in the fundamentals of generative AI, Sweet noted, describing this as the foundation of its AI reinvention strategy. The announcement comes alongside the rollout of a six-month, $865 million business optimization program, which includes severance costs and headcount reductions. Chief Financial Officer Angie Park said the restructuring is expected to generate more than $1 billion in savings, which will be reinvested into the business and workforce while still delivering modest margin expansion.

At the same time, Accenture is continuing to grow its AI expertise. The firm now employs 77,000 AI and data professionals in 2025, up from 40,000 in 2023, and plans to add more staff in the next financial year across key markets such as the U.S. and Europe. “Our No. 1 strategy is upskilling,” Sweet emphasized, adding that the company has extensive experience in scaling talent training but must also make quick decisions to ensure it has the skills required for future growth.

Sweet highlighted that Accenture’s early investments in AI are driving strong business momentum, pointing to the firm’s positioning as the go-to partner for companies seeking to deploy advanced AI. She added that the company feels “very good” entering fiscal year 2026 given the traction in demand for its AI-related services. “Every CEO, board and C-suite recognize that advanced AI is critical to the future,” she said.

Industry analysts note that Accenture’s restructuring illustrates the dual pressures facing global consulting firms: the need to cut costs while simultaneously pivoting to areas like generative AI that promise long-term growth. While the firm continues to hire and invest in its AI talent base, the decision to exit employees unable to reskill underscores the speed at which AI is reshaping the professional services landscape.

Source: CNBC.