PwC’s US chief executive has issued a stark warning to senior staff, saying partners who resist artificial intelligence “have no place” at the firm as it moves rapidly toward an AI-first operating model. Paul Griggs, who became US CEO in May 2024, told the Financial Times that automation will fundamentally reshape how the professional services giant delivers tax, audit, and consulting work.
Griggs emphasized that the shift applies to all staff, leaving no exemptions for those unwilling to embrace AI. “Any partner who believes they can opt out of this change is not going to be here that long,” he said, signaling the urgency with which PwC is pursuing technological transformation.
At the heart of PwC’s strategy is a departure from the traditional billable-hours model. The firm is developing AI-powered tools capable of providing services directly to clients, reducing reliance on large teams of junior staff for routine analytical and administrative tasks. Some tax and consulting offerings are being converted into automated platforms that clients can access independently, with pricing moving toward subscription-based models rather than time-based billing.
The initiative will be formalized with the launch of “PwC One,” an AI platform initially covering mergers and acquisitions due diligence and complex tax advisory. PwC plans to expand the platform quickly, aiming to position itself as both a provider of expertise and a developer of scalable technology solutions.
The move reflects broader challenges for the professional services sector, where generative AI is increasingly capable of performing tasks previously reserved for consultants and analysts. For firms like PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG, the risk is twofold: AI could reduce the need for large workforces while also enabling clients to internalize capabilities, bypassing external advisers.
Griggs’ remarks also signal a cultural shift within PwC. Adaptability to AI is becoming a core expectation rather than a specialist skill. Industry experts describe the transformation as inevitable. Raj Abrol, chief executive of Galytix, said AI is reshaping risk management and decision-making, offering organisations the ability to process vast datasets in real time. Kenny MacAulay, chief executive of accounting platform Acting Office, argued that AI scepticism is incompatible with modern business leadership, warning that firms failing to integrate AI risk falling behind competitors already leveraging automation.
PwC’s aggressive approach highlights how quickly AI is moving from experimental technology to operational necessity. The firm’s message to its workforce is clear: adapt to an AI-driven future or risk being replaced by those who will. As Griggs frames it, partners who resist AI “have no place” in the organisation, underscoring the high stakes of technological change in the world of professional services.