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AI to handle 30pc of Deloitte tasks as billable hour dies

The Australian Financial Review

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Details

Date Published
7 May 2026
Priority Score
2
Australian
Yes
Created
9 May 2026, 10:00 am

Authors (1)

Description

Massive, junior-heavy project teams are being replaced by automated tools and offshore centres as the advisory sector rewires its revenue engine.

Summary

Deloitte Australia’s internal projections suggest that artificial intelligence will automate up to 30 per cent of routine consulting tasks within three years, signaling a radical shift in professional services away from the traditional billable hour model. This rapid integration of high-level task automation represents a significant advancement in the deployment of frontier AI capabilities within the corporate sector, primarily targeting junior-level labor and data-intensive analytical work. While the article focuses on business model transformation, it highlights the accelerating pace of AI adoption in critical infrastructure and advisory services, which has long-term implications for governance and the monitoring of automated decision-making. The development underscores a broader trend in the Australian economy where massive project teams are being replaced by autonomous tools, complicating oversight mechanisms for AI-driven professional advice.

Body

CompaniesProfessional ServicesConsultingPrint articleMay 7, 2026 – 5.24pmDeloitte Australia’s calculation that AI will handle up to 30 per cent of its routine consulting tasks within three years confirms the death of the traditional billable hour.This is a wholesale rewiring of the consulting business model. Firms can no longer rely on massive, junior-heavy project teams working on multi-year projects to generate revenue.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleFollow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.Find out moreRead MoreConsultingOpinionBig four consultantsDeloittePwCEYKPMGFetching latest articles