The Future of AI in M&A: What’s Next?
Where GenAI will take M&A next — and what it will mean for dealmakers.
GenAI has moved from buzz to real utility — and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is on the edge of its next big shift. In the Season 2 finale of The Dealist podcast, host Catherine Ford talks with Austin Corbett of Accenture and Jon Martin of SS&C Intralinks about the early signals of what’s coming, from the rise of agentic AI and smarter diligence workflows to the long-term potential for a digital twin that mirrors the entire deal process in near-real time.
The episode explores how evolving artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities will transform the way risks are identified, value is captured and how deal teams will need to adapt as technology becomes more deeply embedded across the transaction lifecycle.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How next-gen technology is reshaping every stage of dealmaking
- What Accenture’s latest research reveals about AI’s role in the future of M&A
- How serial acquirers are investing in AI to accelerate value capture
- The ways AI will assist valuations, reduce wasted deal effort and support stronger decision-making
- How agentic AI could operate as an autonomous partner in the deal process
- Why a digital twin for M&A may be closer than many expect
Timestamps
0:45 Introductions
2:15 Early-stage AI trends
5:30 AI’s competitive edge
7:04 Next-gen tech is reshaping every stage of dealmaking
7:25 Accenture research: AI will revolutionize how deals are done
9:56 Serial acquirers are investing in AI
12:27 AI’s impact now and in the future of M&A
14:00 How AI will help valuations
16:45 Upskilling deal teams to future-proof
19:43 DealCentre AI showcase
20:23 Agentic AI — an autonomous deal team member
23:38 AI will reduce effort on deals that won’t ever close
26:30 The most strategic teams will use AI to win
26:52 We’ve just scratched the surface of what AI can do in M&A
28:28: A digital twin for M&A!