Accenture gives IT services a reprieve from AI fears

Accenture’s latest quarter delivered a useful answer to a question hanging over the technology-services industry: are companies using AI to buy less outside help? Revenue reached $18.7 billion and new bookings—client commitments for future work—hit $22.2 billion, both ahead of expectations, while the firm forecast 3% to 6% revenue growth in local currency for its new fiscal year. That suggests many companies still need consultants to connect AI tools to older systems, redesign operations, and run them at scale, rather than simply replacing service providers with software. Investors pushed Accenture and peers higher, though the relief is not a clean all-clear: the company said prices fell in many areas as customers demand a share of AI’s efficiency gains.