Artificial intelligence is no longer a futuristic vision: it has become the primary advisor for Generation Z. According to the Ifop/Talan 2025 barometer, 85% of young French people aged 18 to 24 now regularly use generative AI tools, while nearly one in two French people (45%) use it daily, an increase of 13 points compared to the previous year.
If you still doubt this, conduct a simple test in a room: ask those who use an AI like ChatGPT at least once a week to raise their hands. Come back a month later and ask the same question: you will struggle to count the hands that remain down. AI has already become a natural reflex for new generations. Planning a trip, searching for a recipe, AI is everywhere, all the time, for every question, for every search, in all sectors. Therefore, what place will remain for consulting professionals, particularly in finance, if they do not quickly embrace this technological shift?
A rapidly accelerating artificial intelligence market
The global generative AI market is growing rapidly, particularly in the financial sector, which is experiencing spectacular growth: valued at $1.67 billion in 2023, it is expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2024 and exceed $16 billion by 2030 (Research & Markets). With an average annual growth rate of 39%, this rapid acceleration affects not only large banking groups or international firms but also profoundly reshapes the consulting landscape, engaging all its players—including independents—in an inevitable transformation...
Companies already convinced by artificial intelligence, and rewarded
Today, seven out of ten financial companies already use some form of artificial intelligence in their daily operations, and 83% of them plan to use it significantly in the next three years (KPMG, 2024). Even more revealing, 74% of companies that have invested in generative AI solutions claim to have met or exceeded their initial goals, showing revenue growth 2.5 times higher than their competitors (McKinsey, 2024).
Artificial intelligence is generating increasing enthusiasm, but governance is still too fragile
While artificial intelligence is generating increasing enthusiasm in the financial sector, this excitement masks a more concerning reality: governance is still largely insufficient. According to the Smarsh 2024 report, only 32% of financial players have established a formal AI governance framework to date. The recently enacted European AI regulation already considers automated financial assessment and personalized advisory tools as "high-risk," imposing strict transparency, regular audits, and rigorous human oversight. In this context, the lack of internal skills to manage compliance with these new requirements could expose financial institutions to major risks. Beyond potential sanctions, their reputation and customer trust could also be durably affected.
Training in artificial intelligence: a strategic and social urgency
Artificial intelligence does not signal the disappearance of jobs in the banking and financial sector, but it profoundly redefines their contours. This is revealed by a recent study conducted jointly by the French Banking Federation and Roland Berger, which highlights a structural evolution of jobs rather than a brutal substitution. Nine major professional families—including customer relations, compliance, marketing, and internal control—are directly impacted by the gradual integration of AI into business processes.
Automation is indeed taking hold, but it also creates a growing demand for new skills. Professionals capable of supervising AI, interpreting its results, identifying its limitations, and correcting any biases will retain a strategic place in the organization. Conversely, roles that do not adapt to this new technological landscape will gradually be absorbed by automated solutions. Here are four concrete measures to adopt immediately for artificial intelligence...
- Create a common AI skills framework for all consulting professions (financial, wealth management, HR, career guidance).
- Systematically integrate mandatory modules on AI ethics, model auditing, and governance into university curricula (professional bachelor's and master's degrees).
- Establish certifications co-validated by professional organizations and the Financial Markets Authority, ensuring recognition of new skills.
- Financially support training through OPCOs, tax credits for training, and public-private partnerships with AI solution providers.
France has everything to succeed, except time to waste
We have a globally recognized AI ecosystem, an advanced regulatory framework, and an excellent network of schools. The challenge is no longer in technological innovation but in our collective ability to overcome inertia. While some continue to debate, customers are already asking machines their questions and receiving immediate answers. Now is the time to act. Continuing to train our advisors without fully integrating AI would be to ignore an already unavoidable reality. The real question is no longer about choosing between humans and machines, but between decline and adaptation. Let us train together today, before individuals turn the page.
