AI Benefits from Management Consultants
The Evolving Role of AI in Consulting
Artificial intelligence initially posed a threat to consultants by suggesting it could replace their roles. However, the reality has taken a different turn. Instead of being replaced, consultants are now finding that AI is giving them an advantage—at least for the time being. This shift highlights a new dynamic where AI and consulting firms are working together to address a common challenge: businesses not fully leveraging the potential of artificial intelligence.
According to a survey conducted by McKinsey last summer, nearly two-thirds of employees reported that their organizations had not yet started scaling AI across their enterprises. Additionally, more than half of nearly 4,500 chief executives surveyed by PricewaterhouseCoopers late last year indicated they had not seen significant financial benefits from AI so far. These findings underscore the gap between what AI can do and what businesses are actually doing with it.
Collaborations Between AI Companies and Consulting Firms
To bridge this gap, companies like OpenAI and Anthropic have been forming partnerships with consulting firms to promote the use of their technologies. For example, OpenAI has established deals with major consulting firms such as McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, Accenture, and Capgemini. In these collaborations, OpenAI's engineering teams work alongside the consultants to help businesses implement AI solutions effectively.
Anthropic, another key player in the AI space, recently announced a partnership with Deloitte to develop industry-specific solutions. This collaboration is part of a broader trend where consulting firms are aligning themselves with various AI companies to enhance their offerings and better serve their clients.
Bill Achtmeyer, chairman at Acropolis Advisors, notes that many firms are trying to determine which AI partners will be most beneficial. He observes that the consulting industry is actively seeking out the best technological alliances to stay competitive.
Enhancing AI Integration Through Consulting Expertise
OpenAI’s Frontier platform enables companies to build, deploy, and manage AI agents. The company employs 70 forward-deployed engineers who work closely with businesses to tailor the platform to their specific needs. By partnering with consulting firms, these engineers can help businesses shape their AI strategies, integrate systems, and redesign workflows around the technology.
For instance, Colin Jarvis, OpenAI’s global head of forward-deployed engineering, mentions a large European bank where OpenAI is collaborating with a consulting firm. The team evaluated eight use cases for Frontier, including functions related to credit risk and voice capabilities. This kind of partnership allows for more effective implementation of AI solutions in real-world scenarios.
Expanding AI Applications Across Industries
The impact of AI extends beyond individual projects. Tom Rodenhauser, managing partner of K2 Consulting Research, emphasizes that AI stands apart from previous technological advancements due to its broad applications and the many potential uses that remain unexplored. His research indicates that the demand for consulting services has surged, with global consulting growing by 5.5% in 2025—double the rate of the previous year.
Accenture, for example, reported $2.2 billion in new AI bookings in the most recent quarter, marking a $400 million increase from the prior quarter. These figures highlight the growing importance of AI in the consulting sector.
New Models of Consulting and Pricing
Partnerships with AI companies are changing the traditional consulting model. Clients are less interested in paying for a large number of junior associates to collect and synthesize data. Instead, more agreements are based on outcome-based pricing, where firms are paid partly based on whether a project achieves a specified result rather than how many people are involved.
Tom Rodenhauser notes that this shift represents a dramatic change from the way consulting has traditionally operated over the past 50 years. While he acknowledges that these gains might be short-lived, the current trend shows a clear movement toward more results-driven consulting.
Redefining the Consulting Landscape
At McKinsey, the classic team model has evolved to include more engineers, reflecting the increasing integration of AI into consulting practices. Ben Ellencweig, a leader at McKinsey’s AI unit, QuantumBlack, explains that AI allows consultants to focus on tasks that make them more distinctive.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) views its partnership with OpenAI’s Frontier as a way to transform how companies operate. Dylan Bolden, a senior partner at BCG, states that the goal is to accelerate a shift from isolated AI pilots to full-scale workflow reinvention.
The Future of Consulting in an AI-Driven World
Despite the potential for AI to disrupt the consulting industry, some experts believe that human expertise will still be essential. Bill Achtmeyer, chairman at Acropolis Advisors, suggests that the consulting industry might shrink as AI becomes more capable of handling data-crunching and analysis. However, he also points out that company leaders will always seek input from senior partners for critical decisions.
Mo Koyfman, founder at Shine Capital, adds that companies need a human to hold accountable if something goes wrong. “They want a throat to choke,” he says. “They want to be able to pick up a phone and call a human being and say, ‘You screwed me.’” This sentiment reflects the enduring value of human judgment in an increasingly automated world.
