**The big picture:** EY is extending its internships into yearlong residencies to equip young consultants with essential skills for the AI era. This strategic shift addresses the evolving demands of entry-level work in an AI-driven landscape. **Why it matters:** This move highlights a proactive approach to closing the emerging skills gap and sets a precedent for how companies will develop future talent, impacting talent acquisition and development strategies across industries. **Between the lines:** - EY's program extends internships by 8-12 months. - Focuses on critical AI-era skills like judgment and professional skepticism. - Responds to employee desire for employer-supported skill relevancy. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms must adapt talent pipelines to include longer, more specialized development programs, potentially increasing the lead time for entry-level placements. HR departments will need to re-evaluate traditional internship structures and invest more in continuous learning. **The bottom line:** The traditional internship model is evolving rapidly to meet the demands of an AI-powered workforce.