EY has reported global revenue of $57bn (£43bn) for its latest financial year, marking growth of almost 5 per cent and highlighting the increasingly important role artificial intelligence is playing across the professional services sector.

The result comes as businesses continue to move beyond early experimentation with AI and look for practical ways to use the technology across finance, operations, customer services, risk management and strategic decision-making. For EY, that shift has translated into particularly strong demand for its AI-related services, which increased by almost 50 per cent during the year.

The firm’s performance was not dependent on AI alone. EY-Parthenon, its strategy arm, was the strongest-performing service line, recording growth of 7 per cent. Tax increased by 6 per cent, consulting grew by more than 4 per cent, while assurance increased by 3 per cent.

Together, the figures point to a professional services business benefiting from continued demand for advice at a time when companies are attempting to navigate technological change, economic uncertainty and increasingly complex regulatory expectations.

Investment in People and Technology

EY said it invested $448m during 2026 in training and development, with artificial intelligence forming an important part of that investment.

The emphasis on people is significant. While AI is frequently discussed in terms of automation and productivity, professional services firms are also having to ensure that their employees understand how the technology should be used, where its limitations lie and when human expertise must remain central to a decision.

EY Global Chair and Chief Executive Janet Truncale said the growth in AI-related demand reflected a changing business environment in which organisations increasingly want technology to be combined with sector expertise, trusted relationships and human judgement.

That distinction is becoming increasingly important. The rapid development of generative AI has created substantial commercial opportunities, but it has also introduced new questions surrounding accuracy, confidentiality, intellectual property, cybersecurity, accountability and professional responsibility.

The Risks Behind the AI Opportunity

EY has itself acknowledged that the benefits of AI depend upon responsible implementation. Its approach places emphasis on governance and building confidence around how AI systems are introduced and controlled.

The firm’s own experience demonstrates why such safeguards matter. Earlier this year, EY withdrew a study concerning loyalty rewards programmes after a review identified a series of AI-related errors, including hallucinated content and false footnotes.

The incident was an uncomfortable reminder that even major professional organisations are not immune from the risks associated with generative AI. For firms whose reputation depends heavily on accuracy and professional judgement, the ability to verify AI-generated material is likely to remain just as important as the technology itself.

EY Continues to Trail Deloitte

Despite its strong performance, EY remains some distance behind its largest Big Four rival, Deloitte, which recently announced global revenue of $74.5bn (£56.37bn).

The wider UK market has also continued to grow, albeit at a more measured pace. PwC’s UK revenue reached £4.365bn, an increase of 2 per cent, while Deloitte UK’s revenue rose by 2 per cent to £5.81bn for the year ended 31 May 2026.

EY’s latest results nevertheless demonstrate where the professional services industry is heading. AI is no longer simply a technology story confined to specialist teams. It is becoming part of the wider conversation around strategy, tax, assurance, consulting, risk and business transformation.

For EY, the challenge now will be to convert exceptionally strong demand for AI services into sustainable long-term growth while maintaining the professional standards and human oversight on which its reputation has been built. As businesses become more ambitious about what AI can deliver, they are also likely to become more demanding about the quality, accountability and reliability of the advice that comes with it.