Mumbai, February 20: Accenture has officially begun linking promotion eligibility for senior employees to the frequent use of its proprietary artificial intelligence tools. The consulting giant informed senior managers and associate directors that advancing to leadership positions will now require demonstrating "regular adoption" of the firm’s AI platforms, marking a significant shift in its internal talent evaluation process.

The directive follows previous statements by CEO Julie Sweet, who warned that employees unable to adapt to the AI-driven landscape would be "exited" from the company. Human Resources is now reportedly formalising this stance by tracking individual weekly logins to systems such as the Accenture AI Refinery, ensuring that usage becomes a "visible input" during summer promotion discussions. Tech Jobs at Risk: Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani Warns 90 Million Roles at Risk; Outlines 5 New AI Positions To Lead Global IT Transformation.

Internal Resistance and 'Slop Generator' Criticisms

The new policy has met with notable friction from within the firm's senior ranks. According to reports from the Financial Times, some staff members have described the mandated AI tools as "broken slop generators," questioning the quality and utility of the output. While junior staff have generally been more receptive to the technology, partners and veteran managers have reportedly shown greater attachment to traditional working methods.

Despite the internal pushback, the mandate remains firm for a large portion of the workforce. However, Accenture has granted exemptions to employees in twelve European countries, likely due to stringent local labour laws, as well as staff working on sensitive United States federal government contracts.

Strategic Pivot Amid Financial Pressures

The aggressive internal mandate comes as Accenture seeks to reposition itself as an "AI-first" organisation. The company has rebranded its global workforce as "reinventors" and has invested approximately USD 1 billion annually in learning and development. To date, the firm claims to have trained 550,000 of its estimated 780,000 employees in generative AI technologies.

This strategic pivot is also aimed at reassuring investors following a challenging period for the company's valuation. Accenture’s share price has decreased by roughly 42 per cent over the past year. By forging high-profile partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, the firm is betting that a workforce fully integrated with AI will drive the productivity gains necessary to reverse its market slide.

The Broader Consulting Landscape

Accenture’s move reflects a wider trend across the "Big Four" and other major professional services firms, where leadership is struggling to bridge the digital divide between different generations of workers. Executives at rival firms have acknowledged that convincing senior partners to alter decades-old workflows is a primary obstacle to achieving full AI integration. OpenAI Nears Record-Breaking USD 100 Billion Funding Deal As Valuation Soars Past USD 850 Billion.

As the summer promotion cycle approaches, the success of this policy will likely be measured by whether it successfully forces adoption or leads to a talent drain. With some senior staff reportedly threatening to resign over the mandate, the consulting industry is closely watching how one of its largest players balances technological ambition with employee retention.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2026 11:00 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).