Nearly 90% of BCG employees are using AI — and it's reshaping how they're evaluated

At the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), embracing artificial intelligence has become a non-negotiable aspect of employee evaluations. With nearly 90% of the workforce integrating AI into their daily tasks, this shift is transforming the consulting landscape. Alicia Pittman, the global head of BCG's people team, highlighted that AI usage has been woven into the very fabric of performance metrics, stating, "There's no box on our forms that says, 'Are you using AI?' It is an expectation." The incorporation of AI has not altered the fundamental nature of work at BCG but has significantly elevated the standards for quality and efficiency. For instance, while consultants can utilize AI to uncover insights, their performance is evaluated based on their ability to apply judgment in interpreting these findings and crafting impactful solutions for clients. Pittman noted that the most significant application of AI is in the realm of performance management itself. One of BCG's standout AI tools streamlines the performance review process, slashing writing time by 40% while enhancing quality by 20%. Remarkably, about half of BCG's 33,000 employees are considered "habitual users" of AI, relying on it daily as a vital part of their workflow. The firm surpassed its goal of achieving 50% adoption by the end of the year, reaching this milestone in May, well ahead of schedule. This trend is not isolated to BCG; other consulting firms are also pushing for AI integration within their teams. For example, Accenture is actively reskilling its workforce, while McKinsey reports that over 70% of its employees are utilizing its AI chatbot, Lilli. BCG's success can be attributed to its robust AI training programs, with the development of several internal tools designed to enhance productivity. One of these, Deckster, assists consultants in creating and refining presentations and is used weekly by about 40% of associates. Additionally, the firm has established a comprehensive training infrastructure, including a dedicated generative AI learning team and a network of 1,200 local office trainers to ensure effective AI adoption. The firm has also identified around 1,500 advanced users who are experimenting with AI at a higher level, contributing to the creation of custom GPTs tailored to specific consulting tasks. These innovations, including tools for reviewing presentations and improving client interactions, are rigorously tested before deployment. BCG currently holds the record for the highest number of custom GPTs among OpenAI's clients, with a remarkable increase in employee engagement in this area over the past year.