PwC US CEO Issues Warning on AI Adoption Among Partners
Paul Griggs, the US CEO of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has issued a stark warning to senior partners at the consulting firm regarding the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). He emphasized that those who fail to prioritize AI integration risk losing their positions within the company.
“I don’t think anyone gets a free pass here. Anyone,”Griggs told the Financial Times, underscoring the firm’s commitment to becoming AI-first.
He further stated that employees who believe they can opt out of engaging with AI technologies will not remain at PwC for long.
“An employee who thinks they have the ‘opportunity to opt out’ of AI is ‘not going to be here that long’,”Griggs added.
Consulting Industry and AI Impact
The consulting sector is among those expected to be significantly transformed by advances in AI, as the technology automates tasks such as accounting, research, and business problem analysis. Despite concerns about automation, major consulting firms including PwC, Accenture, and McKinsey are experiencing growth driven by client demand for AI implementation support.
According to K2 Consulting Research, which tracks industry trends, the global consulting market grew by 5.5% in 2025, doubling the growth rate from the previous year.
PwC’s Talent Strategy Amid AI Changes
Griggs explained that PwC’s employment approach has evolved in response to AI’s influence on work practices, though the firm continues to expand its workforce overall.
“Am I recruiting the same number of accountants and traditional consultants vis-a-vis engineers, on a proportionate basis, that I was three years ago? No,”he said, highlighting a shift towards hiring more data specialists.
Last year, PwC reduced its global staff by 5,600 employees, bringing the total workforce to fewer than 365,000 worldwide.
AI-Driven Automation and New Service Models
Griggs revealed that PwC plans to transform certain tax and consulting services into AI-powered automated tools accessible through annual subscriptions. This represents a departure from the traditional consultancy billing model based on hours worked.
“The new tax and consulting tools could be accessed ‘without a PwC person in the loop’,Griggs explained.
PwC is introducing “PwC One,” an AI platform providing six automated services for clients, including an “anomaly detector” designed to identify errors in sustainability data.
Griggs indicated that automation could lead to new pricing structures within the consulting industry and expand the range of services offered by the Big Four firms: PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG.
“Over time, it will move more and more of our work to outcomes pricing, which I believe our clients will readily accept because, ultimately, the only thing our clients care about is the outcome delivered,”he said.
