AI Adoption in M&A Hits Tipping Point as Trust and Governance Become Key Differentiators
Event summary
- 62% of dealmakers say human-only decision-making is no longer defensible in complex M&A transactions.
- 71% believe firms ignoring AI today will struggle to compete within five years, per Datasite's survey of 1,000 senior dealmakers.
- 50% report regular AI use during due diligence, delivering the highest reported ROI in the deal lifecycle.
- 58% rely on human review and validation to build confidence in AI-generated outputs.
The big picture
AI has transitioned from experimental to essential infrastructure in M&A, with adoption now concentrated in high-ROI areas like due diligence. The strategic battleground is shifting from mere AI usage to how firms integrate it responsibly—balancing automation with human judgment while ensuring governance frameworks can support high-stakes decisions. Firms that fail to address trust and security concerns risk falling behind as the technology becomes ubiquitous.
What we're watching
- Trust Dynamics
- How the balance between AI automation and human oversight will evolve as dealmakers demand greater accuracy and security in AI outputs.
- Governance Shifts
- Whether firms prioritizing transparent, secure AI deployment will outperform competitors relying solely on adoption metrics.
- Competitive Advantage
- The pace at which AI becomes a table-stakes requirement rather than a differentiator in M&A execution.
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