KPMG now has a dashboard where its consultants can track how often their colleagues use AI

KPMG has launched a new dashboard aimed at enhancing the use of artificial intelligence within its US advisory division, which recently underwent significant layoffs affecting 400 employees. This dashboard allows consultants to monitor their AI usage against set targets and compare it with that of their peers. The firm anticipates that this tool, introduced late last year, will lead to more frequent and advanced utilization of AI among its 10,000 staff members. According to Russ Grote, a spokesperson for KPMG, regular AI users create higher-quality outputs, experience reduced stress levels, and are able to dedicate more time to strategic initiatives. "These advantages accelerate career advancement and enable us to better support clients navigating their own transformation journeys," he shared. KPMG reports that over 90% of its US workforce engages with AI on a weekly basis. Business Insider has obtained exclusive insights from two employees, who requested anonymity due to company policy, regarding the dashboard's functionality. While designed to promote AI adoption, they noted that it could be easily manipulated, potentially skewing the actual representation of AI usage in daily operations. As the push for AI integration intensifies, consulting firms have been scrambling to measure adoption rates and assess potential returns. Some rely on daily usage statistics, while others analyze extensive data to project profitability. This trend extends beyond consulting; companies across various sectors are implementing similar tracking systems. For instance, JPMorgan has instructed its tech division to leverage AI for code improvement, with progress being monitored through internal dashboards that evaluate engineer performance based on AI tool usage. Disney and Amazon have also developed tracking systems to measure employee engagement with AI technologies, assessing frequency and effectiveness. KPMG CEO Tim Walsh emphasized the importance of AI usage for future success in a recent statement, highlighting the firm's commitment to fostering a robust AI culture. KPMG employs several proprietary AI tools, including aIQ Chat, which provides secure access to advanced language models like ChatGPT and Claude. Its Digital Gateway platform leverages AI to assist in adapting to evolving tax laws. The dashboard tracks usage of both internal tools and external platforms, with a target for many employees set at 75% usage over business days. However, some employees have expressed concerns about the dashboard's limitations, particularly in tracking popular coding tools like Lovable or Claude Code frequently used by software engineers. One employee explained that the metrics could be easily manipulated, stating, "You can just run a prompt — that would be your AI usage for the day," and noted that automation could be employed to artificially inflate usage metrics. Grote emphasized that the dashboard is part of a broader initiative to promote sophisticated AI usage, complemented by educational programs and incentives. The firm has also introduced the "AI Spark Innovation Awards," which reward consultants for innovative AI applications. KPMG collaborated with the University of Texas at Austin to research how employees can achieve better outcomes with AI, discovering that the most successful users are those who treat AI as a collaborative partner rather than merely a tool. Through these initiatives, KPMG aims to cultivate a culture of advanced AI utilization among its workforce, moving beyond mere adoption to encourage meaningful and effective applications.