Source page: McKinsey & Company
Commentary
AI meets M&A
Artificial Intelligence | M&A
March 12, 2026 – Gen AI is no longer just theoretical in M&A. Leading teams are already using it to find targets, support due diligence and deal making, and improve integration planning and execution. In a McKinsey survey, 40 percent of respondents using gen AI in their M&A activities said it shortened deal cycles by an average of 30 to 50 percent. As next-generation tools grow more capable—linking internal and external data, automating more processes, and learning from each transaction—companies that build AI fluency now, formalize their M&A playbooks, and map out a clear adoption strategy will be best positioned to capture the value ahead, note McKinsey’s Kameron Kordestani, Rui Silva, and Julia Berbel.
[[Exhibit 0312]]To read the article, see “Gen AI in M&A: From theory to practice to high performance,” January 14, 2026.
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Visual form
Table (with Visual Encoding): bubble-matrix survey table of gen-AI benefits across M&A process phases.
Layout / body structure
Rows list the benefits respondents observed from gen AI, while columns separate target identification, due diligence, dealmaking, integration and separation, and an all-phases summary. Circular markers and percent labels fill the matrix cells so the reader can scan both across phases and down benefit types.
What is being compared
It compares the top reported benefits of using gen AI in M&A work across four process phases and an aggregate all-phases view.
Measurement system
The values are survey percentages from 200 M&A practitioners, showing the share of respondents who selected each benefit as one of their top three.
Visible structure inside the graphic
The largest markers cluster around improved deal insights and streamlined processes. Other rows cover faster deal cycles, lower costs or head count required, and enhanced accuracy in analysis.
Main takeaway from the visual
The chart shows that M&A practitioners see gen AI as useful for both better judgment and faster execution. The strongest benefits are insight generation and process streamlining rather than only cost reduction.
Key standout values or extremes
More or improved insights reaches 66 percent in dealmaking, 65 percent in integration and separation, and 57 percent across all phases. Streamlined processes reaches 63 percent in target identification and 56 percent across all phases, while faster deal cycles is 40 percent across all phases.
Controls / sequence, when applicable
This is a static chart image with no in-chart controls to operate.
Companion media, when applicable
There is no separate companion audio or video; the gen-AI-in-M&A benefit matrix is the full visual on this page.