McKinsey CEO Bob Sternfels says the firm now has 60,000 employees: 25,000 of them are AI agents (www.businessinsider.com)

McKinsey & Company has significantly ramped up its workforce, now boasting around 60,000 employees, with 25,000 of them being AI agents. CEO Bob Sternfels announced this rapid expansion during a recent appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show and a Harvard Business Review podcast. This shift marks a pivotal transformation for the firm, as it aims to have an AI agent collaboration paired with every consultant within the next year and a half. McKinsey's aggressive growth in AI capabilities reflects a broader industry trend, as leading consulting firms are integrating generative AI into their operations, optimizing efficiency, and potentially reshaping their competitive edge. The implications of this AI integration are profound. Currently, AI initiatives account for 40% of McKinsey's work, primarily driven by its dedicated QuantumBlack team. The firm is not only seeking candidates who can navigate both consulting and technology but is also redefining its business model. Rather than relying solely on traditional advisory fees, McKinsey is transitioning to a model where it collaborates with clients to define business outcomes and offers guidance in executing those ventures. This evolution could signal a new era for consulting, emphasizing an increasingly symbiotic relationship between human consultants and AI technologies.