🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

This fund targets AI’s difficult ‘last mile’ problem

• Google’s investment tackles a stubborn problem in AI. Testing tools is easy, but rolling them out across a big company is hard 1.
• Google says only about 25% of organizations have put AI into production at scale. That is the gap the fund is meant to close 2.
• Google also needs this position because consulting firms now work with several AI providers to spread risk.
• Bain & Company partnered early with OpenAI. Boston Consulting Group has a strategic alliance with Anthropic 3.

The investment signals a shift in both AI business models and talent

• McKinsey and Google plan to co-fund some client work on an outcome basis. Payment depends on results instead of standard project fees 1.
• Google also plans to place engineers with large IT services firms such as Tata Consultancy Services and HCLTech. The goal is to help customers install AI systems and fix technical issues 2.
• This also gives Google a talent edge. Consulting firms are training thousands of specialists on Google’s AI tools and infrastructure. Accenture said it plans to double its AI workforce to 80,000 specialists 3.