From 16% to 60%: How Top Acquirers Are Using AI to Win Deals

Mergers and acquisitions are undergoing a tech-powered transformation. According to Bain's 2025 Global M&A Report, while many companies are still in early stages of AI adoption, the competitive gap is quickly widening for those who lag behind.

Current adoption: where do we stand?

The numbers tell a compelling story.

• Only 21% of M&A professionals are using generative AI in their processes as of 2024, up from 16% in 2023
• Among the most active acquirers (including many private equity firms), adoption is notably higher: 36% of frequent acquirers are using AI
• Over 60% of PE firms are now applying generative AI in sourcing, screening, or due diligence

This disparity creates both a challenge and an opportunity. Those moving early are building capabilities that will be hard to replicate.

Where generative AI delivers value

Early use cases (already proven)

The initial wave of AI adoption has focused on high-volume, time-intensive tasks:

• Accelerating sourcing: scanning markets for potential targets faster than ever
• Screening targets: quickly filtering opportunities against investment criteria
• Document review: processing data rooms and contracts at unprecedented speed
• Initial due diligence: synthesizing public information and identifying red flags early

Emerging applications

Companies are now exploring AI's role in more strategic activities:

• Integration planning: drafting workplans and transition service agreements
• Divestiture preparation: preparing carve-out documentation
• Value creation plans: identifying synergies and improvement opportunities

Bain expects that within 12 months, AI tools will dramatically reduce time spent on these activities.

The long-term vision

Within the next five years, Bain projects that every stage of the M&A lifecycle will be enabled by generative AI: from strategy development through post-merger integration.

Why speed and early adoption matter

Early adopters are gaining significant advantages:

1. Faster deal identification: spotting opportunities before competitors
2. Confidence to walk away: better analysis leads to clearer pass/pursue decisions
3. Accelerated value extraction: faster integration and synergy capture post-close
4. Reduced manual effort: teams can focus on strategic work rather than data gathering

Companies using generative AI report spending less time on low-value tasks, allowing dealmakers to focus on judgment-intensive activities where human expertise truly matters.

What you should do now

If you haven't started exploring AI in your M&A processes, here's the playbook.

1. Start experimenting

Even simple tools or prompt-engineered workflows can reduce work and improve insights. Don't wait for the perfect, polished solution: start building muscle memory now.

2. Build an AI portfolio

Mix off-the-shelf tools with internal data sources. Some firms are developing proprietary tools tailored to their specific deal flow and criteria.

3. Reimagine the process

AI should inform strategy: help reshape stages of M&A, not just speed up existing workflows. The biggest gains come from rethinking how work gets done.

4. Adapt your team

As AI takes on operational loads (project management, document summarization), teams should shift toward high-impact strategic roles. Talent needs will evolve.

The bottom line

You're not behind yet. But the pace of change means that companies need to act now. Waiting too long risks falling behind in bidding, in insight, and ultimately in value creation.

Generative AI offers advantages across the entire M&A path, and firms that move early will build durable competitive advantages. The question isn't whether to adopt AI, but how quickly you can integrate it into your dealmaking process.

This article summarizes key insights from "Generative AI in M&A: You're Not Behind—Yet" from Bain & Company's Global M&A Report 2025.