Accenture will consider AI usage in promotions and is tracking how employees use its AI tools.
CEO Julie Sweet said workers must adapt to AI, as the company reskilled many and cut some roles.
Microsoft and Google are also encouraging AI use and linking it to performance.
Accenture has informed associate directors and senior managers that the use of artificial intelligence will now play a central role in career advancement. According to the reports, the message was delivered in an internal communication where leadership told staff that promotion decisions will increasingly hinge on how effectively employees integrate AI into their day-to-day responsibilities. The message also emphasised that leveraging artificial intelligence is becoming a formal performance metric rather than an optional enhancement. The company is also monitoring usage patterns across its digital platforms. Weekly login activity is being tracked, including engagement with AI Refinery, Accenture’s internal AI platform, enabling executives to identify which employees are actively using the tools.
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Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit Julie Sweet, the Chief Executive Officer of Accenture, said companies must rethink how they operate and invest in reshaping their workforce, stating that the future belongs to ‘humans in the lead, not just humans in the loop.’ Although the company has seen major restructuring, including around 11,000 layoffs in late 2025 aimed at those who could not be reskilled, it has also reskilled more than 550,000 of its 800,000 employees in generative AI. The company’s total spend on severance and transformation over the last three years has reached approximately $2 billion.
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Accenture is not alone in this push, as Microsoft previously in June 2025 told employees that using AI is no longer optional and asked managers to consider AI use in performance reviews. Reports also said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told senior leaders that those who do not support the company’s AI plans may need to reconsider their future there. Meta and Google have also taken steps to encourage or track AI adoption among staff, with Google specifically linking AI proficiency to its newest performance management cycles.
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The AI Refinery platform was built in partnership with NVIDIA at Accenture. However, the new promotion rule will not apply to everyone. Employees in 12 European countries and those working on US federal government contracts are currently exempt due to regulatory and contract limits. While the mandate currently focuses on senior roles, it is not yet clear if junior employees will face similar automated tracking for their appraisals in the future.
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
