Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Accenture Expects AI Spending Growth as Token Costs Fall
Accenture helps companies use technology and automation.
Its chief executive says cheaper AI models may lead businesses to use AI in more parts of their work.
AI systems process information in small pieces called tokens, and those tokens are becoming less expensive.
Companies may spend more on AI because lower costs make wider use more affordable.
AI also lets some tasks be completed with less human work, which can reduce the amount companies pay for certain services.
Accenture says it is balancing that pressure by offering new services and helping clients do more.
The company reported strong annual revenue and a large amount of new business.
It expects revenue to grow between 3% and 6% in the current fiscal year.
Its results also encouraged investors and supported shares of some Indian technology companies.
Accenture expects lower AI token costs to encourage companies to deploy automation more broadly.
The company reported $74.2 billion in annual revenue, up 6% from the previous year.
Accenture’s annual new orders reached $84.5 billion, with more than half coming from managed services.
The company expects current-fiscal-year revenue growth of 3% to 6% in local currency, including 2% to 2.5% from acquisitions.
Accenture shares rose 22% after earnings exceeded analyst expectations, lifting Infosys and Wipro shares as well.
- Who
- Accenture, led by Chief Executive Julie Sweet and Chief Financial Officer Angie Park, reported the results and outlook.
- What
- Accenture expects declining AI token costs to increase client spending on automation, while AI-related productivity continues to pressure service revenue.
- When
- The company reported results for the fiscal year ended in August and gave its outlook for the current fiscal year.
- Where
- The results were discussed during a post-earnings conference call; Accenture shares rose on the New York Stock Exchange.
- Why
- Cheaper AI models may allow companies to use AI more widely and at greater scale, creating demand for process changes, AI infrastructure, and related services.
AI pressure on services
AI-driven growth opportunity
Effect on revenue
AI pressure on services
Automation can replace or reduce some technology-services work, creating persistent revenue deflation for service providers.
AI-driven growth opportunity
Accenture says it can offset the pressure through new kinds of work, broader project scopes, productivity improvements, and demand for AI implementation.
Client spending
AI pressure on services
Overall technology budgets have remained largely unchanged, and discretionary spending could deteriorate in a weaker economic environment.
AI-driven growth opportunity
Lower token costs may encourage companies to deploy AI in more places and at greater scale, increasing spending on process redesign and AI infrastructure.
Outlook for technology firms
AI pressure on services
AI-led productivity and automation could threaten employment and pricing in the technology-services industry.
AI-driven growth opportunity
Accenture’s stronger orders, earnings, and commentary suggest demand remains intact for digital, data, and enterprise AI services, providing a positive signal for Indian IT companies.
- Annual revenue
- $74.2 billion, up 6% from the previous year
- Annual net profit
- $8.5 billion, up 8.8% from the preceding year
- New orders
- $84.5 billion, with more than half coming from managed services
- Operating margin
- 15.4%, up 70 basis points year over year
- Revenue outlook
- 3% to 6% growth in local currency for the current fiscal year
- Expected acquisitions
- About $8 billion this year, including approximately $3 billion in cybersecurity acquisitions
- Employees
- 814,391, up 5% from the previous year