PwC’s Washington DC managing partner sees AI cutting project timelines

The shift is particularly evident in the initial phases of consulting engagements. Where projects once required eight to 10 weeks, clients now frequently expect results in half that time. This acceleration is driven by the integration of AI, which now handles foundational duties like market research, due diligence, and brainstorming. McKinsey’s global technology leader, Kate Smaje, noted that AI has condensed the traditional "week one" hypothesis-building phase into an "hour one" task, allowing consultants to pivot toward deeper analysis sooner.

Internal feedback from major firms reflects this technical leap. Deloitte engineers report coding tasks dropping from days to minutes, while EY-Parthenon consultants have seen two-week due diligence processes shrink to a single day. Despite this, Johnson cautions against equating speed with reduced effort. She argues that AI reshapes how consultants spend their time rather than simply cutting hours, especially as client challenges become more multifaceted. With the simultaneous pressure of geopolitical instability, tariffs, and macroeconomic shifts, firms must now navigate a significantly more complex global landscape than in previous years.