Ernst & Young awards $100M in bonuses for human skills

Consulting firm Ernst & Young (EY) announced a $100 million investment to award bonuses to employees who develop specific human skills, emphasizing the human factor as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes widespread across industries. The program, which offers individual or team bonuses ranging from $500 to $25,000, rewards skills like business acumen, sound judgment, adaptability, and experimentation with advanced technology. It includes three award categories recognizing contributions to learning, collaboration, innovation, and positive company impact, with employees able to nominate colleagues. This initiative comes amid growing public anxiety about AI's impact on jobs, with a Pew Research Center survey showing 71% of Americans fear it will lead to fewer positions. Other firms like KPMG and PwC are also adapting training to focus on critical thinking, while younger workers express particular concern about AI's effects on creativity and workplace connection.