Consultancy firms are forecasting strong demand for artificial intelligence projects in the year ahead, as they pin hopes on the technology to offset sluggish growth in the sector.

The consultancy sector has been grappling with a slowdown in demand, with revenue in the UK remaining flat at £20.4bn in 2024. Businesses are tightening their belts and postponing projects, which has caused the post-pandemic boom in consulting work to stall.