EY Is Betting $100M on Human Workers, Giving Them Up to $25,000 Bonuses for Skills AI Can't Replicate

As artificial intelligence reshapes accounting and professional services, Ernst & Young US is making a major bet on the people still at the heart of the profession. The accounting and professional services firm is investing $100M in a new rewards program for professionals who develop 'future-focused' skills, advance the firm's culture, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional client service.

Employees can receive spot awards of up to $500, while individuals and teams whose contributions make a significant impact on the firm can receive cash awards ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, according to The Wall Street Journal.

EY Is Betting on What Humans Bring to the Table

The program is organised around three categories: everyday leadership, transformation that drives measurable results, and game-changing impact for the enterprise. EY US employees at all ranks can also recognise colleagues for valuable contributions as they happen.

'How we reward our people defines what we value as a firm,' Ginnie Carlier, EY Americas Chief Talent and Culture Officer, said. 'And what we value are confident professionals who continuously push themselves to learn fast and drive a lasting impact.'

She added: 'With these awards, we are empowering our EY professionals to bring a curious mindset to their work, to challenge what is possible and to ultimately shape the future of EY US.'

Gen Z Interns Embrace AI, But Worry It Could Erode Critical Thinking

EY's strategy arrives as AI reshapes the path for younger workers entering professional services. A July 2026 KPMG survey of 906 US interns found that 76% believe future success will depend on both human skills and the ability to direct AI effectively. At the same time, 43% said their top concern about AI's impact on leadership development was that over-reliance could limit critical thinking.

KPMG's Derek Thomas said critical thinking, judgement, and communication will help early-career workers stand out as they move toward leadership. 'These are the capabilities that help people earn trust and grow into leadership roles,' he said. PwC's Margaret Burke has likewise emphasised the importance of human judgment and critical thinking as AI changes how early-career professionals work.

The Junior Talent Pipeline Is Under Pressure

The shift matters because AI is changing how younger workers gain experience and develop professional skills. BambooHR's 2026 finance workforce analysis found that finance organisations posted three senior roles for every entry-level role in 2025. It also found that 33% of finance hires in its 2024 cohort left within their first year; BambooHR includes only cohorts with a full 12-month observation period in this measure.

BambooHR warned that a shrinking junior pipeline could leave finance organisations without enough experienced workers to step into senior roles as tenured employees leave. As AI and other technologies take over more routine work, some early-career employees may have fewer opportunities to build experience through traditional entry-level tasks.

AI's Bigger Job Warning

The concern extends beyond accounting. 'It seems very likely to a large number of people that we will get massive unemployment caused by AI,' British computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton, often called the 'Godfather of AI', said during a November 2025 discussion with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at Georgetown University.

Hinton has also argued that the enormous investment in data centres and chips reflects a bet that AI will eventually be able to perform much of human workers' tasks at a lower cost.

The concerns are widespread. A recent Pew Research Centre survey found that 52% of US adults are more concerned than excited about AI, while 71% expect it to reduce the number of US jobs over the next 20 years.

EY said the rewards program is part of its multibillion-dollar investment in attracting and developing talent that can thrive in a 'tech-led, human-powered world.'