Global AI spending hits $2.52 trillion as The Consulting Report names top consultants. The list spans PwC to General Dynamics, signaling broad demand for AI advisory services.
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The Consulting Report named its top artificial intelligence consultants and leaders for 2026, a list that spans firms from PwC to General Dynamics Information Technology. The recognition comes as global AI spending is projected to hit $2.52 trillion this year, according to the report.
The press release, issued Tuesday, said the initial corporate rush toward chatbots and pilot programs has given way to a harder reckoning over cost. Companies now face a steep hurdle: buying cloud infrastructure or software licenses is a straightforward capital expense. Turning those tools into productivity gains requires clean data pipelines, trained employees, and strict oversight to protect proprietary data, the report said.
The leaders on this year's list work across both the technical architecture and the human operations required for AI to succeed. On the technical side, their work includes modernizing data environments and deploying agentic systems. From a management perspective, they advise boards on governance and risk, redesign workflows, and identify measurable savings or growth opportunities. The report said their value is measured less by the power of the technology itself and more by whether their advice converts to enduring results.
This year's awardees include Bhushan Sethi (PwC), Eric Maroyan (RSM US), Bret Greenstein (West Monroe), Michael Tatschl (Simon-Kucher), Paolo Pellegrini (Metyis), Gwellyn Daandels (Virtusa), Matt Pearce (General Dynamics Information Technology), Mehdi Goodarzi (Hexaware Technologies), Sundeep Kumar (Sigmoid), Karthik Ragunathan (Tredence), Rick Young (Sikich), and Vadim Belski (ScienceSoft).
The list signals that demand for AI consulting remains broad-based, spanning Big Four firms, regional players, and specialized technology consultancies. General Dynamics Information Technology's inclusion ties the defense contractor's consulting arm to the AI wave, a read-through for investors tracking GD stock page. The broader stock market analysis suggests that firms with deep AI integration capabilities may see continued demand for advisory services as companies move from experimentation to production.
The Consulting Report, based in New York, described the selection criteria as depth of specialized experience, advisory impact, industry influence, and leadership within each firm. The full list is available on its website.
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