Nearly nine out of ten companies are now turning to AI for a task few expected — and it’s reshaping how major business deals get done. But here’s where it gets controversial: is artificial intelligence truly making mergers and acquisitions smarter, or is it just adding new risks to an already delicate process?
According to Deloitte’s latest study, an impressive 86% of business leaders say their organizations are already using generative AI in their mergers and acquisitions (M&A) operations. Even more telling, 65% of these companies only began implementing it within the past year — proof that the AI wave is accelerating fast across the corporate world.
Why AI is Taking Over M&A
Generative AI is being adopted to streamline what is notoriously one of the most complex business undertakings: combining or acquiring entire organizations. The technology is being used to analyze markets, assess potential targets, and even draft preliminary deal documents. In short, AI is doing what large M&A teams used to take weeks to complete — and doing it much faster.
Deloitte notes that businesses are moving beyond test projects and pilot experiments. Investment in AI has transitioned to full-scale deployment, with company leaders now expecting tangible, measurable returns. However, even with all this excitement, not everyone is convinced.
The Hidden Challenges (and Fears)
Those surveyed didn’t hold back about their anxieties. Data security emerged as the top concern, cited by 67% of respondents, followed closely by fears around data quality (65%), model reliability (64%), and ethical bias (62%). These issues reflect deep-rooted mistrust in how AI systems handle sensitive corporate data.
The report also reveals that over half of organizations — 57% — are investing in upskilling and training to ensure their teams can use AI responsibly. After all, having the right tools means little without the right people who understand how to apply them safely and effectively.
Where AI Shines the Brightest
So where exactly is generative AI being applied in the M&A process? Deloitte found that most use cases focus on the early stages — particularly strategy development and market analysis, each adopted by about 40% of companies surveyed. Nearly half (48%) are also using AI tools to draft early-stage legal documents, helping teams move faster on complex legal groundwork.
Interestingly, the later stages of a deal, such as valuation or final negotiations, still see less AI involvement. That’s where human expertise remains crucial — for now.
The Bigger Picture: Decision Intelligence
A massive 83% of respondents believe generative AI will significantly influence future deal-making decisions. Gartner supports this idea, highlighting a growing trend called “decision intelligence,” where AI helps map out business and economic forecasts to guide executive choices. If true, the entire M&A landscape could soon shift toward more data-driven, AI-assisted decision-making.
But here’s the catch: generative AI tools are far from perfect. Their tendency to “hallucinate” or produce made-up information can create dangerous outcomes in high-stakes scenarios. Combined with security vulnerabilities and unresolved ethical questions, it’s no wonder many leaders are still hesitant to hand too much control over to algorithms.
The Road Ahead
Despite those concerns, experts believe progress is inevitable. As companies strengthen their data governance frameworks, provide staff with more robust AI training, and as regulators introduce stronger protections, we may see AI take on a more reliable and regulated role in business transactions.
The real question, though, is this: Will generative AI eventually replace human intuition in high-value corporate deals — or will it always remain just an assistant, never the decision-maker? What do you think? Should AI be trusted to manage billion-dollar acquisitions, or are we moving too fast in our rush to automate complex human judgment? Share your thoughts — this debate is just getting started.
