Layoff staff who can't retrain with AI claims CEO JulieSweet
Accenture has fired more than 11,000 staff members whose CEO Julie Sweet is unable to obtain through the AI program. Nevertheless, the consulting giant will increase its overall staffing with a focus on data and AI experts.
Accenture CEO Julie Sweet says staff members must not only learn and use AI, but also implement AI projects for clients.
During the company's full-year fourth quarter financial results conference call, Sweet announced employee cuts in the year end of August 2025 to the end of the year.
Regardless of these layoffs, Sweet added that he will focus on AI and will add that the company will increase its employees this year (full year 2026).
“Advanced AI has been adopting CEO, C-Suite and board mindshare faster than any technology development we've seen over the past 20 years,” said Julie Sweet, CEO of Accenture. “Generational leaders need new skills to understand how AI informs business strategies. The workforce needs new skills to use AI and new talent strategies and related capabilities…
“We are working with businesses early in our journey to using AI, which hopes to accelerate our ability to prepare AI and leverage assets and platforms to deploy AI.”
Sweet claimed the company currently has 77,000 AI and data experts, up from 40,000 in 2023. “This year we have worked on over 6,000 advanced AI projects, and in 2025 we have achieved meaningful revenue. Also, all reinventors are equipped with the latest AI skills.
Overall, the company submitted a 7% increase in annual revenue to £69.7 billion, with operating profit rising 7% to $10.2 billion. Half of the company's revenue is generated in the US, with just over a third in the EMEA region. Revenues will be divided into approximately 50/50 between consulting and managed services.
In addition to AI, the company also offers security services. This could increasingly encompass AI as a threat and opportunity.
“On the one hand, we see threat actors using AI to automate attacks, generate messages and deepfakes, and scan for vulnerabilities more than ever before. On the other hand, AI, analytics and excellent data provide powerful new tools to defend such approaches. Computing Early this year.
