Deloitte, a consultancy firm, is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to assess the skills of its existing employees. The plan will help them transition from less active areas of the business to roles that are currently in high demand.
This strategic move is part of the company’s broader initiative to leverage technology, particularly AI, to moderate its hiring growth over time.
The decision to implement AI-driven evaluations comes on the heels of the firm’s substantial expansion, with the addition of 1,30,000 staffers this year. However, amid these hires, Deloitte issued warnings to thousands of employees in the US and UK about potential redundancies due to the restructuring of certain business areas, prompted by a slowdown in demand.
In a statement to the media, Stevan Rolls, global chief talent officer, Deloitte, emphasised the goal of avoiding large swings in hirings and layoffs. He pointed out that companies can be more efficient and effective about finding the right people.
Deloitte’s total headcount is approaching 4,60,000 after the recent hiring surge, marking a threefold increase in new hires compared to a decade ago when revenue was approximately half of its current levels.
Deloitte has already started experimenting with generative artificial intelligence to automate repetitive tasks traditionally handled by junior staff. The tasks include document preparation and data gathering for client pitches.
Generative artificial intelligence, exemplified by technologies such as ChatGPT, utilises datasets to autonomously produce coherent and contextually relevant sentences or essays in response to queries. This cutting-edge AI innovation has helped automate tasks traditionally handled by junior staff, such as document preparation and data aggregation for client presentations.
