PwC Threatens Staff Who Opt Out of AI Adoption

PwC US CEO Paul Griggs told employees that anyone who thinks they can opt out of AI "won't be here that long," and warned senior leaders uncomfortable being AI-first will be replaced. The firm is reportedly shifting from hourly billing to subscription-based pricing for tax and consulting, anticipating automation will compress the labor component. The awkward part: PwC's own January 2026 survey of 4,454 business leaders across 95 countries found more than half of organizations using AI saw neither increased revenue nor decreased costs. Deloitte's numbers are similarly deflating - only 20% of organizations achieved revenue growth from AI despite 74% targeting it. Accenture is already tracking AI usage in promotion decisions. The consulting firms are betting their business models on productivity gains their own research can't yet confirm.