PwC will train 85,000 workers to think critically as AI does more of the work

PwC US is launching a certification program to teach its staff critical thinking and judgment. It starts in December and covers more than 85,000 employees in the US, Mexico and the firm's Acceleration Centers, which support client work and business operations. The reason is simple. AI now does much of the research, writing and analysis that once built those skills.

Why the firm is doing this

Yolanda Seals-Coffield, PwC US's chief people and inclusion officer, said the repetition that helped people develop judgment "just won't be there" as AI takes on foundational tasks. She said first-year associates already do different work than they did two years ago. A PwC analysis of US job listings found that entry-level roles exposed to AI were far more likely than in 2019 to ask for senior-level skills such as judgment and leadership.

How the program works

Each employee is expected to take about six months. The steps are:

• An assessment of your thinking style, such as whether you question assumptions, reflect, or act as a pragmatist
• Classes built with professors and veteran PwC staff
• Realistic simulations where employees apply the framework to their work
• A personal AI coach for daily tasks

The framework covers how to evaluate information, set context, challenge assumptions, refine analysis and communicate recommendations. Content will be customized by seniority level.

What the AI coach does

The coach can help staff practice difficult conversations or prepare for client meetings. In one example, an employee uploads a proposal, the coach reviews it, and then helps them anticipate questions. It can also help decide which team member should take which role. After the certification, the coach can deliver new lessons as the company decides updates are needed.

What happens next

The rollout will happen in stages. That gives staff time to use the lessons before development leaders assess their skills as part of the performance review process. PwC wants everyone done by the end of its fiscal year in June 2027. Seals-Coffield said it is not a traditional pass/fail exam. The aim is repeatable skills, with people assessed against them at year-end.

PwC also says it is hiring more engineers and technologists than ever, and still makes offers to most of its summer interns. It declined to share year-over-year entry-level hiring figures.