At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Accenture CEO Julie Sweet discussed about her prediction for artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for business, labor and innovation. Speaking to CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, Sweet provided a glimpse into how Accenture is positioning itself to lead in an era shaped by rapid technological change.
“Today, the biggest barrier to using AI is not the technology itself,” Sweet explained. “It’s actually having the talent that’s been upskilled to use AI and reskilled to take advantage of the opportunities.” This challenge, she said, is a driving force behind Accenture’s recent initiatives, including the launch of Learn Vantage, a program focused on helping organizations prepare their workforce for AI-driven transformation.
Sweet also countered the notion that white-collar jobs are the most at risk, arguing instead that AI is creating demand for deep specialists who can integrate AI into existing industries. She described the emergence of roles such as
“AI people managers,” where humans oversee and refine AI systems, akin to traditional team management. “Just like you have managers for people, you now need managers for AI,” she said.
Discussing global confidence in AI adoption, Sweet observed significant disparities across regions. She noted that while the U.S. is embracing AI-driven growth, Europe lags behind in digitization and AI leadership. “Europe is still facing a lot of challenges,” she remarked, adding that European businesses are increasingly focusing on competitiveness to close this gap.
In a forward-looking moment, Sweet introduced the concept of physical AI, an area she believes will dominate discussions in the coming year. She described Accenture’s partnership with NVIDIA as pivotal in scaling AI applications, particularly in industries like manufacturing and supply chain management. Sweet explained: “Physical AI is about integrating AI into the real world — whether it’s training digital twins or optimizing complex supply chains. It’s still early, but it will be transformational.”
She also shared her optimism for AI’s role in addressing supply chain complexity. Referring to Accenture’s work in this area, she explained that AI’s potential extends beyond streamlining operations to reshaping global manufacturing networks.
Sweet also conveyed her excitement for the future, noting that the AI revolution demands continuous adaptation across all sectors. She shared her belief that AI will fundamentally enhance productivity while creating new opportunities for collaboration between humans and technology. She also stated that companies must move from experimentation to scaling AI solutions, emphasizing the importance of platforms like those developed with NVIDIA.
With optimism tempered by pragmatism, Sweet underscored the need for leaders and workers alike to embrace AI as a tool for growth.
“This is about reshaping how we work and what’s possible in ways we couldn’t have imagined before,” she concluded.
