Accenture is tying AI tool usage to promotions for senior staff, marking a significant shift in how consulting firms evaluate leadership potential. The Dublin-based company trained 550,000 workers on generative AI tools last year but now requires associate directors and senior managers to demonstrate regular adoption of AI technologies to qualify for advancement.

This month, Accenture began monitoring weekly AI tool logins for select senior employees, with only those showing consistent usage considered for leadership positions this summer. The policy affects talent discussions company-wide, though employees in 12 European countries, those on U.S. federal contracts, and specific joint ventures are exempt. An Accenture spokesperson told Fortune the goal is to become the "reinvention partner of choice" for clients by ensuring staff leverage the latest technologies effectively.

Accenture's approach reflects a broader industry trend, with consulting rival KPMG incorporating AI usage into annual performance reviews and Amazon's Ring requiring AI explanations in all promotion applications. Meta has also shifted to evaluating employees based on their "AI-driven impact" starting this year. These policies signal that AI proficiency has evolved from a desirable skill to a core expectation for career advancement, fundamentally changing how companies assess and promote talent in the digital age.