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AI in professional services

Utilization, pricing and adoption across consulting, agencies, accounting, law and engineering.

Billable utilization hit a record low in 2026 while AI use on projects rose. These benchmarks show what that means for firms that sell hours.

Reading list

  1. 01SPI Research · Feb 20262026 Professional Services Maturity BenchmarkBillable utilization fell to 66.4% in 2025, the lowest in the benchmark's history and below SPI's 70–75% targets.
  2. 02SPI Research · Dec 20252025 Impact of AI on Professional Services BenchmarkOnly one in ten professional services firms are attempting truly transformational AI.
  3. 03Hinge · Jan 20262026 High Growth StudyMedian growth for professional services firms cooled to 9.9%, the lowest since 2018.
  4. 04Promethean · Mar 2026State of Digital Services 2026: An Uneven Return to FormAverage digital agency revenue grew 7.5% in 2025, with large agencies rebounding and small agencies growing slowest.
  5. 05SoDA · Jan 2026Agency Outlook Study '2681% of agencies use AI for creative ideation and 76% to automate or accelerate routine operational tasks.
  6. 06Thomson Reuters · Feb 20262026 AI in Professional Services ReportOrganizational GenAI use nearly doubled to 40%, up from 22% the prior year.
  7. 07Thomson Reuters · Jun 2026Future of Professionals Report 202674% of professionals use AI tools several times a week; 44% rely on them multiple times a day.
  8. 08Deltek · May 202647th Annual Deltek Clarity Architecture & Engineering Industry StudyAI adoption among A&E firms rose from 53% to 70% year over year; generative AI use rose from 64% to 78%.
  9. 09Kantata · Jan 2026State of the Professional Services Industry Report (AI agents survey)89% agree future revenue growth will depend more on scaling AI than scaling headcount.
  10. 10Clio · Oct 20252025 Legal Trends ReportFirms with wide AI adoption are nearly three times more likely to report revenue growth than firms that have not adopted AI.
  11. 11Karbon · Jan 2026State of AI in Accounting Report 202698% of firms now use AI, with most using it daily or several times a day.
  12. 12CPA.com · Jun 2026AI Tax Research Solution Outlook Report 202660% use AI for tax research at least weekly, nearly double the 33% reported in 2025.

Other collections

11 reportsWhy the adoption numbers disagreeAI adoption is 18% or 90% depending on who you ask. Read these in order to see why.17 reportsBeyond usage: what AI actually doesExperiments, payroll data and spending records that measure outcomes, not whether people say they use AI.7 reportsMid-market AI: what the data saysThe few surveys that include companies with $10M–$1B in revenue.4 reportsMinnesota AILocal data on AI adoption and jobs in Minnesota and the Upper Midwest.14 reportsEvergreen playbooksGuides and frameworks without survey data behind them. Useful when you are ready to act.