Accenture reports in their earnings call that enterprises are reallocating IT budgets towards AI and data modernization rather than increasing overall spending. Generative AI has generated significant new bookings, and companies are focusing on enhancing digital capabilities and workforce upskilling. Accenture has expanded its data and AI workforce and is collaborating with firms like S&P Global to develop generative AI skills among employees.
Gartner forecasts that AI-enabled PCs will account for 43% of global shipments by 2025, up from 17% in 2024, with total shipments reaching 114 million units. AI laptops are expected to dominate, comprising 51% of laptop shipments by 2025. The shift towards AI PCs will primarily affect the consumer market, with Arm-based AI laptops gaining market share from Windows x86 systems.
The global cybersecurity workforce has seen its first growth slowdown in five years, with only a 0.1% increase year-over-year, totaling 5.5 million professionals, while a shortage of 4.8 million workers persists, per a report from ISC2. Despite increasing cybersecurity threats, U.S. cybersecurity employment shrank nearly 5%, highlighting budget cuts and hiring freezes. Employers prioritize revenue-generating roles over cybersecurity, and there is a disconnect between the skills sought by hiring managers and those perceived as necessary by applicants. ISC2 recommends creating more learning opportunities and recruiting diverse talent to address these challenges.
A Pluralsight survey reveals that many IT workers struggle to keep their skills updated due to rapid technological advancements. Half of current workers and nearly a third of aspiring ones feel overwhelmed. Key skills in demand include software engineering, cybersecurity, and AI/machine learning.
Why do we care?
Accenture’s earnings call signals a shift in enterprise spending towards AI and data modernization rather than a broad increase in IT budgets. That’s where customers want to focus – it’s a reallocation, which is a key detail.
And that’s as the cyber workforce is shrinking. Do more with less –watch your teams, as their jobs are overwhelming. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m noting that these will be the skills of those who excel.