The Use of AI in Consulting: Hype, Reality, and What Comes Next
AI is reshaping nearly every industry, and management consulting is no exception. But despite the loud voices predicting the “death of traditional consulting” in the wake of agentic AI, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced. That's why I decided to revisit a poll I ran a year ago — to better understand how AI is actually being used by consultants today.
Daniel Cremer
5/12/20251 min read
📊 Poll Results:
“What AI tools are you using more frequently on your consulting cases?”
76%: Mostly free tools like ChatGPT
11%: Tailored 3rd-party AI tools or agents
8%: Company-developed in-house AI suite
6%: No real use of AI yet
(213 votes • Poll closed)
These results suggest a clear picture: while AI awareness is high, most consultants are still relying on freely available tools, rather than company-provided solutions or proprietary systems.
🤖 AI Is Here – But Not Fully Embedded
From talking with clients and candidates alike, one thing is clear:
AI is helping consultants write faster, research better, and even create slide drafts. But it hasn’t yet changed the core mechanics of strategy consulting — problem structuring, stakeholder engagement, and judgment.
Why?
Most firms are experimenting, not yet institutionalizing.
Security, IP, and regulatory risks make in-house AI rollouts slow.
Many consultants are still learning how to prompt effectively and integrate AI into daily workflows.
🔁 What’s Changed in a Year?
I’m now re-running the poll to see how sentiment and adoption have shifted.
How does AI affect your daily life as a consultant today?
Are you still using only tools like ChatGPT?
Does your firm offer tailored 3rd-party AI apps?
Has your firm launched its own AI suite?
Or are you still figuring out how it fits?
🔍 I’d love to hear:
What AI tools are you using more frequently now?
Where do you see the biggest wins — and limitations?
Why This Matters
As someone working at the intersection of strategy, consulting, and executive hiring, I see AI skills becoming a differentiator in candidate profiles. Firms are actively seeking consultants who don’t just use AI, but who think critically about its strategic implications.
If you’re leading digital transformation or hiring strategy talent, you need people who understand how to harness AI as a force multiplier — not a threat.
#AIinConsulting #ChatGPT #ConsultingCareers #StrategyConsulting #LLM #ConsultingTools #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfWork #AGAMEInsights #PollResults #AgenticAI
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