“Consulting is emerging as an early and high-profile test case for how dramatically an industry must shift to stay relevant in the AI era.”
– Chip Cutter
The newly prized skillsets at global thought leader McKinsey are an ability to learn fast and get along well with others, reports The Wall Street Journal. Describing how AI models are disrupting knowlege workplaces, they say McKinsey foresees a 1:1 ratio between human consultants and AI agents.
The Journal says more and more AI models are taking over roles requiring “mediocre expertise,” while the need for “distinctive expertise” is growing and commanding a premium.
Examples of tasks being completed by AI bots are building presentations, note-taking and summarizing, and checking recommendations for logical consistency. The Journal says the most popular application “helps employees write in a classic ‘McKinsey tone of voice’ —language the firm describes as sharp, concise and clear.”
AI Is Coming for the Consultants. Inside McKinsey, ‘This Is Existential.’ | THE WALL STREET JOURNAL | August 2, 2025 | by Chip Cutter