Deloitte and AI: Impact, Professionalism, and Integrity. Absolutely But Don’t Forget Billable
December 1, 2025
Another dinobaby original. If there is what passes for art, you bet your bippy, that I used smart software. I am a grandpa but not a Grandma Moses.
Do you recognize any of these catchphrases?
- Making an impact that matters
- Professionalism in Practice
- Serving Those Who Serve Business
- Service with Integrity
Time’s up. Each of these was — note the past tense — associated in my mind with Deloitte (originally Deloitte Haskins & Sell before the firm became a general consulting firm. Today’s Deloitte is a representative blue chip consulting outfit. I am not exactly what shade of blue is appropriate. There is true blue, Jack Benny’s blue eyes, and the St. Louis blues. Then there are the blues associated with a “small” misstep with AI. Understatement is useful at blue chip consulting services firms.
Thanks, Venice.ai. Good enough.
I read Fortune Magazine’s story “Deloitte Allegedly Cited AI-Generated Research in a Million-Dollar Report for a Canadian Provincial Government.” The write up states with the alleged hedge:
The Deloitte report contained false citations, pulled from made-up academic papers to draw conclusions for cost-effectiveness analyses, and cited real researchers on papers they hadn’t worked on, the Independent found. It included fictional papers coauthored by researchers who said they had never worked together.
Now I have had some experience with blue chip and light blue chip consulting firms in my half century of professional work. I have watched some interesting methods used to assemble documents for clients. The most memorable was employed by a special consultant dragooned by a former high ranking US government official who served in both the Nixon and Ford administrations. The “special” dude who was smarter than anyone else at my blue chip firm at the time because he told me he was used his university lecture notes as part of our original research. Okay, that worked and was approved by the former government big wheel who was on a contract with our firm.
I do not recall making up data for any project on which I worked. I thought that my boss did engage in science fiction when he dreamed up our group’s revenue goals for each quarter, but the client did not get these fanciful, often juicy numbers.
The write up presents what Deloitte allegedly said:
“Deloitte Canada firmly stands behind the recommendations put forward in our report,” a Deloitte Canada spokesperson told Fortune in a statement. “We are revising the report to make a small number of citation corrections, which do not impact the report findings. AI was not used to write the report; it was selectively used to support a small number of research citations.”
Several random thoughts:
- Deloitte seems to be okay with their professionals’ use of smart software. I wonder if the framing of the problem, the upsides, the downsides of options, and strategic observations were output as a result of AI prompts?
- AI does make errors. Does Deloitte have a process in place to verify the information in documents submitted to a client? If the answer is yes, it is not working. If the answer is no, perhaps Deloitte should consider developing such a system?
- I am not surprised. Based on the blue chippers I have met in the last couple of years, I was stunned that some of these people were hired by big name firms. I assumed their mom or dad had useful connections at high levels which their child could use to score a win.
Net net: Clients will pay for billable hours even though the “efficiencies” of AI may not show up in the statement. I would wager $1.00 that the upside from the “efficiencies” will boost some partners’ bonuses, but that’s just a wild guess. Perhaps the money will flow to needy families?
Stephen E Arnold, December 1, 2025
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