Accenture sees slower days, underwhelming Al returns

Enterprise AI adoption at scale low; Gen Al-related revenue for the year touches $2.7 billion

- Jas Bardia

Julie Sweet, chair and chief executive officer of Accenture.

(REUTERS)

Accenture Plc is bracing for slower days ahead even as artificial intelligence (AI) captures its clients’ mind space at an unprecedented pace.

The consulting giant said AI's promise has so far outstripped its real-world impact, forcing the company to point towards job cuts.

“It is well recognized that advanced AI has taken the mind share of CEOs, the C suite and boards faster than any technology development we've seen in the past few decades,” said Julie Sweet, chair and chief executive of Accenture at the company's post-earnings call with analysts. “At the same time, as reported widely, value realization has been underwhelming for many and enterprise adoption at scale is slow, other than with digital natives.”

While Accenture navigates the Gen AI uncertainty, on recent policy swings, Sweet said the company is largely unaffected by the changes in the country’s visa policies introduced by US President Donald Trump.

“This (H-1B) is really a nonissue because we only have about 5% of our people in the US on H-IB visas, and they are for really specialized experience and skills for our clients. So, you know, (this is) not something that is really a big impact on Accenture,” said Sweet.