By: Amanda Reseburg
Like many industries, the use of AI is transforming the way mergers and acquisitions (M&A) look, feel, and operate. From automating services to the very core of dealmaking, AI is proving to be a remarkably adept tool in the M&A space, a fact that is changing the way many advisors and consultants structure their businesses going forward.
Traditionally, M&A transactions were often built on hundreds of names in a Rolodex and a room full of junior analysts at desks pounding the pavement doing research before the dealmakers even made it to the table. Now, rapidly advancing predictive AI can crunch numbers, research potential partners and acquirers, perform due diligence tasks, assess potential risks, and do it all with great cost efficiency.
Jay Jung, Founder and Managing Partner of Embarc Advisors, has been at the forefront of the AI revolution and has witnessed the profound changes automation has brought to the M&A landscape firsthand. “What used to take hours of work and knowledge can now be done by an associate using AI,” he says.
For all the hand-wringing in the financial sector about what AI solutions may mean for job security and good old-fashioned customer service, Jung sees the obvious benefits in erasing old barriers and opening up the market to more firms — especially smaller enterprises.
AI in M&A: Streamlined Processes, Fast Analytics, and Accelerated Project Management
For many years, M&A has been defined by a decidedly traditional approach: senior bankers with a hard-earned network of personal contacts and the behind-the-scenes labor of junior analysts. Advisors were relied upon to provide research, information on market trends, analysis of market data, and distilled options for the board members of companies looking to buy or sell. This due diligence process meant hours of paid labor, mapping the market and making determinations based on in-depth research, experience, or gut instinct.
With the meteoric rise of AI systems, deep research tools, chatbots, and data analysis capabilities have taken over, allowing M&A advisory companies to research, compile data, and offer options in record time, all while saving money. This synergy of technology and traditional M&A strategy has upended the industry.
Jung has embraced these changes at Embarc Advisors by adapting how the company integrates and leverages the latest AI platforms, including ChatGPT Pro’s “Deep Research” feature. “We leverage proprietary data from platforms like Grata and PitchBook, combine it with our own buyer database, and let the generative AI map the market and identify the high-likelihood buyers,” he explains.
Although this approach of leveraging the “Pro” features of ChatGPT costs Embarc Advisors thousands of dollars a month in subscription fees, those costs pale in comparison to paying the salaries of an entire stable of junior analysts performing the same tasks. “ChatGPT can do in minutes what would take a human analyst hours or days,” Jung notes.
Although what Jung is explaining is precisely what many who decry the rise of AI are afraid of, he stresses that human intervention is still paramount in these transactions. For final reviews of M&A deals, a human touch is still necessary.
“Decades ago, consultants drew slides using paper and rulers, and would then send these to printers,” Jung recalls. “When Microsoft PowerPoint was released, some said we wouldn’t need junior consultants anymore.”
In reality, it was the exact opposite. As Jung explains, PowerPoint made slide creation so efficient that consultants could focus on higher value-added work and grow much faster.
“Similarly, the application of AI doesn’t mean we don’t need M&A advisors,” Jung explains. “Rather, it will allow these advisors to focus on higher value-added work like engaging with buyers, providing emotional support to sellers, and negotiating the minute details of the structure.”
Artificial Intelligence Transforms the San Francisco Startup Scene
Embarc Advisors is not the only company seeing the overwhelmingly positive impact of AI on the M&A space. According to a recent article in the San Francisco Business Times, AI has upended the startup scene in the Bay Area.
Not only is AI making M&A work easier and more efficient, but it is also a driving force behind many deals as businesses scramble to get in on the ground floor of the AI revolution. According to the article mentioned above, AI remained a leading industry for VC funding and acquisitions in 2025, and that rise in popularity and power shows no signs of slowing.
For M&A specifically, AI has lowered the barrier of entry, something Jung sees as changing the competitive landscape in M&A entirely. As AI continues to redefine roles, making some people obsolete unless they learn to adapt, it is changing the way M&As are viewed, allowing for less gatekeeping and more people entering the field.
“With the right amount of speed, efficiency, and access to data, smaller firms can now level the playing field with larger, older incumbents,” says Jung.
Leveraging AI: High Stakes for the Road Ahead
Despite fears of job loss and technology removing the human element from M&A, the adoption of AI technology is surging. M&A is highly competitive, as long-time industry veterans like Jung can attest to, and anything that helps push a firm ahead is going to be considered a valuable tool.
With its savvy use of AI tools, Embarc Advisors is proving why the speed, innovation, and cost savings that come with the technology can no longer be ignored by M&A advisors. It’s far more than just a technology trend; it’s ushering in the new era of M&A dealmaking, giving firms of all sizes the ability to level the playing field.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Readers should consult with qualified professionals before making any business, investment, or strategic decisions. The claims made about AI applications and outcomes in M&A are based on the experiences of the company featured and are not guaranteed results.
