AI-Related Revenue of Major Consulting Firms (2024)
Artificial intelligence has become a significant revenue stream for top consulting firms in 2024. Global leaders like Accenture, McKinsey, Deloitte, BCG, EY, and PwC are all reporting surging demand for AI consulting – from experimental pilots to large-scale integrations. Below we break down each firm’s estimated AI-related revenues and the mix of proof-of-concept (PoC) work versus full-scale AI integration, where available, followed by key drivers and trends shaping AI consultancy services.
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by Sami Viitamäki
Accenture
AI Revenue
Accenture leads peers in reported AI-specific revenue. In fiscal 2024 (year ending Aug 2024), Accenture’s generative AI revenues reached $900 million, a ninefold increase from about $100 million the prior year. This figure reflects projects deploying AI (especially generative AI) at clients, and it excludes an even larger pipeline of bookings (Accenture recorded $3 billion in new generative AI bookings in FY2024).
PoC vs Full Deployments
Accenture’s clients initially engaged in many pilot projects (e.g. experimenting with GPT-based prototypes), but those are rapidly scaling into production systems. The $900 M realized revenue suggests numerous projects moved beyond mere PoC into implementation. In fact, Accenture’s Q4 FY24 alone saw $1 billion in generative AI bookings – indicating that many clients are transitioning from trial to full-scale integration. Accenture’s leadership notes that companies are redirecting budget from traditional IT to fund generative AI initiatives that promise efficiency gains. This drive to “free up spending” for AI is converting one-off pilots into larger enterprise programs.
McKinsey & Company
AI Revenue
As a private firm, McKinsey does not break out AI consulting revenue in financial reports. However, industry reporting suggests McKinsey is deeply embedding AI across its engagements. According to a _New York Times_ summary, McKinsey’s leadership expects about 40% of the firm’s business to be AI-related in the near future. This implies that a very large portion of McKinsey’s consulting projects now involve AI elements (strategy, analytics, tools, or implementations), even if not all are full production deployments. If McKinsey’s total revenue in 2023 was on the order of $12–15 billion, a 40% AI-related share would translate to multi-billion dollar AI activity (potentially ~$5 billion or more).
PoC vs Full Deployments
Many McKinsey clients are still in the exploratory phase with AI, but the firm’s goal is to integrate AI into mainstream consulting delivery. McKinsey has built dedicated AI and analytics units (e.g. QuantumBlack) and often starts with strategy, data modeling, or pilot programs to prove value. As those succeed, McKinsey helps scale them. While exact breakdowns aren’t public, the 40% figure indicates that AI is present in nearly half of McKinsey projects – whether as initial proofs-of-concept, advanced analytics prototypes, or fully operational solutions. In practice, McKinsey’s AI work ranges from developing AI-driven strategies and use-case roadmaps to implementing enterprise AI systems for functions like marketing, supply chain, or risk.
Deloitte
AI Revenue
Deloitte (the world’s largest professional services firm by revenue) does not report a standalone AI revenue figure, but its Consulting division (part of a $67 billion FY2024 business)) has a substantial and growing AI portfolio. In the past year, Deloitte delivered 700+ AI projects for clients across industries. These projects contributed to Deloitte’s consulting revenues and ranged from limited-scope pilots to scaled enterprise transformations. Deloitte’s leadership highlights that it is integrating AI pervasively in solutions rather than treating it as a separate line item – meaning AI is often embedded in digital transformation, strategy, and risk consulting engagements.
PoC vs Full Deployments
Deloitte explicitly emphasizes moving clients beyond pilots and proofs-of-concept into scaled deployments. In FY2024, the firm set up a GenAI incubator network across 8 countries to help clients experiment with generative AI, then \*\*develop and scale those solutions in production. Many of the 700+ AI projects likely began as prototypes (e.g. exploring an AI model’s feasibility), but Deloitte’s goal was to turn a large share into full-scale implementations delivering tangible value (process efficiency, cost reduction, improved customer experience). The firm reports aligning over $3 billion in investments into AI and GenAI through 2030 to fuel this scaling effort. In short, Deloitte’s AI work spans the entire lifecycle: initial ideation/PoC, incubation, and enterprise rollout – with a clear push to increase the proportion of enterprise integrations (and not get stuck in the PoC stage).
Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
AI Revenue
BCG has seen one of the most dramatic shifts toward AI. The firm now derives roughly one-fifth (20%) of its total revenue from AI-related work, up from virtually 0% just a few years ago. Given BCG’s worldwide revenue of about $12.3 billion in 2023, this suggests on the order of $2–2.5 billion in AI-driven consulting revenue. This AI segment includes BCG’s projects in advanced analytics, AI strategy, and implementation – much of which is delivered through BCG Gamma, the firm’s data science and AI consulting unit. The rapid increase (from “zero to one-fifth” of revenue in ~2 years) highlights how swiftly BCG has scaled its AI offerings to meet client demand.
PoC vs Full Deployments
In the early days (around 2018–2020), BCG’s AI work was often confined to analytics proofs-of-concept or pilot programs in specific domains (marketing analytics, predictive maintenance models, etc.). However, the recent surge to 20% of revenue implies many engagements have evolved into larger-scale AI transformations. BCG now regularly leads enterprise AI initiatives – building custom AI solutions, embedding AI in business processes, and developing AI-driven operating models for clients. Still, a portion of its AI projects remain in pilot or prototype phases (especially cutting-edge uses like generative AI ideation), which serve as a pipeline for future scaled deployments. BCG consultants have noted that clients increasingly move from _“AI discovery”_ to _“AI at scale,”_ and the firm offers services to support that journey (from initial use-case identification to full implementation and change management).
Ernst & Young (EY)
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AI Revenue
EY’s global revenue was $51.2 billion in FY2024, with growth slowing to ~4%. EY does not report a specific figure for AI-related advisory revenue, and indeed its consulting revenues were flat in 2024 amid market challenges. Nonetheless, AI is a major strategic focus for EY’s consulting and assurance services. Rather than selling “AI projects” separately, EY is infusing AI into its solutions for audit, tax, strategy, and consulting clients. In 2023–24, EY launched a firm-wide AI initiative (EY.ai), signaling its intent to embed AI in all service lines. Internally, EY even deployed a custom large language model called EYQ across its global workforce to enhance productivity. These efforts indicate that while direct AI services revenue isn’t broken out, EY is preparing its people and offerings for an AI-centric future.
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PoC vs Full Deployments
Many of EY’s client-facing AI projects in 2024 were likely early-stage or focused on internal efficiency. For example, EY has been developing AI tools to automate auditing tasks and support its consulting teams, which may start as pilot programs. The firm is actively working to embed AI into core business processes both for itself and for clients. By late 2024, EY announced plans to further _“embed AI into its operations in FY25, aiming to assist clients in becoming AI-powered businesses.”_ This suggests an ambition to move beyond isolated proofs-of-concept towards fully integrated AI solutions within client organizations (e.g. continuous audit analytics platforms, AI-driven financial advisory services, etc.). EY is also advising clients on AI readiness and governance through new structures like its EY.ai Global AI Advisory Council, a panel of external experts formed in Oct 2024 to guide EY and its clients on AI strategy. This emphasis on advisory and governance indicates that a good portion of EY’s “AI work” so far is consultative (frameworks, strategies, prototypes), with the expectation of larger implementation projects in the coming years.
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
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AI Revenue
PwC’s total global revenue in 2023 was $53+ billion, with its Advisory/Consulting segment at $22.6 billion. While PwC doesn’t break out “AI consulting” dollars, it attributes part of its advisory growth to AI-driven services. In 2023, PwC made headlines by partnering with the AI startup Harvey to incorporate an advanced AI platform into its legal advisory business. Initiatives like this, plus broad adoption of AI in consulting, helped keep PwC’s advisory practice strong. By mid-2024, PwC indicated that AI-related engagements were virtually ubiquitous: _“We are actively engaged in genAI with over_ _95%_ _of UK and US consulting client accounts,”_ the firm noted, highlighting how widespread AI discussions or projects had become in its pipeline. This suggests that nearly all of PwC’s major clients are exploring AI proofs-of-concept or implementations with the firm’s guidance. PwC’s U.S. arm also committed $1 billion over three years to scale up AI capabilities and offerings, signaling an expectation of significant AI services growth (though specific revenue numbers are proprietary).
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PoC vs Full Deployments
PwC’s client work in AI during 2024 skewed toward pilot programs and use-case experiments, often as part of larger digital transformation projects. The firm is helping many clients conduct initial proof-of-concept trials of generative AI – for example, exploring how ChatGPT can assist in financial reporting or how AI can automate parts of supply chain management. At the same time, PwC is also rolling out AI at scale where proven: it became OpenAI’s largest ChatGPT Enterprise customer to equip 75,000+ employees with genAI tools, and it’s building AI into managed services for functions like tax prep and audit analytics. This internal adoption often precedes client-facing deployments. PwC’s comment that 95% of its consulting clients are engaged in genAI suggests most engagements have at least a PoC phase ongoing. Converting those into full-scale implementations is the next step. We are already seeing some full integration examples: for instance, PwC developed custom GPT-powered assistants for its tax practice that it also offers to clients. Going forward, PwC is positioning to resell AI solutions (acting as a reseller of OpenAI enterprise products) and integrate them into end-to-end consulting solutions, which will increase the share of scaled AI deployments in its revenue mix.
Comparative Insights and Trends in AI Consulting
900M
Revenue and Growth
Across these firms, Accenture’s AI practice (roughly $0.9B in FY24) stands out in absolute revenue, thanks to its aggressive push into generative AI. BCG leads in concentration, with ~20% of revenue now AI-related (about $2B) – reflecting a fast pivot to AI services. McKinsey and Deloitte are also significant in AI consulting scale: McKinsey is signaling nearly half of its future work involving AI, and Deloitte has executed hundreds of AI projects (though as a share of its $67B business, AI is embedded rather than singled out). PwC and EY are similarly embedding AI in offerings; both have multi-year $1B+ AI investment plans (PwC US with $1B for genAI, Deloitte with $3B globally for GenAI, etc.) instead of reporting discrete AI revenues. In terms of growth, AI consulting is a top-line booster for all – helping offset slower growth in traditional consulting areas. For instance, EY’s overall consulting was flat, but new AI offerings are expected to rejuvenate it, while Accenture credited genAI demand for beating recent quarterly estimates. All firms are hiring or retraining thousands of staff in AI skills to meet demand, and many are acquiring AI startups or forming alliances to expand service capabilities.
