How AI is transforming the future of work at Bain
How AI is transforming the future of work at Bain
Three takeaways on how genAI is reshaping work and opening new opportunities for early-career talent
Generative AI has quickly moved from a futuristic concept to an everyday force shaping how teams think, work, and make decisions. During a recent Bain Breaks It Down recruiting webinar, Senior Partner David Mortlock and Partner Zach First shared an inside look at how this technology is influencing industries, Bain’s work with clients, and the experience of building a career here.
Their discussion revealed a moment of acceleration, one where AI is opening new possibilities while making human judgment, creativity, and collaboration more essential than ever.
Here are three takeaways that stood out.
What makes this moment exciting is the combination of cutting-edge AI innovation and the people you get to build it with.
David Mortlock
Senior Partner
1. Generative AI is becoming central to how organizations make decisions
Across industries, AI is no longer something companies explore on the side; it’s becoming a foundational part of strategic dialogue. David described just how dramatically the conversation has shifted:
“It’s hard not to have a conversation with our clients today where generative AI isn’t part of it. The investment and innovation happening in this space are reshaping every industry.”
Leaders are rethinking operating models, customer experiences, and entirely new businesses in light of emerging technologies. For Bain teams across consulting, analytics, research, product, and operations, this means helping clients navigate a future that is being reshaped in real time.
This evolution also creates meaningful opportunities for people building careers at Bain, contributing to decisions that shape industries, supported by advanced tools and a collaborative culture.
2. Generative AI is unlocking new ways of working, learning, and contributing at Bain
Inside Bain, AI is becoming a core part of how teams do their work, offering new ways to analyze information, test ideas, and explore solutions.
David and Zach shared how these tools allow teams to move faster and go deeper, whether they sit in consulting, internal product development, knowledge and capability roles, research, or operations.
One example they discussed is Bain’s use of synthetic stakeholder tools, which allow teams to understand how different customer segments might react to new ideas long before traditional research would be possible. Zach explained the impact of this shift:
“Are our ideas in the right direction? How would stakeholders react? The synthetic stakeholder tool gives us a way to test and refine thinking quickly. It’s a powerful new tool in the toolkit.”
Bain consultants showcase custom AI tools at the ChatGPT Olympics, a Bain–OpenAI co-hosted event celebrating practical innovation across the firm.
Instead of waiting weeks for survey results, teams can iterate in hours. This creates space for earlier ownership and richer exploration, especially for early-career talent who are eager to dive into real problem-solving.
David also noted that generative AI is also making data and technology far more accessible across Bain. “Generative AI makes technology and data dramatically more approachable, which is redefining the role every leader and team can play.”
The result is a more empowered, hands-on experience across roles, one where individuals can focus less on mechanistic tasks and more on insight, creativity, and developing their own perspective.
3. The future of Bain is both technological and deeply human
Despite the rapid advancement of tools, both speakers emphasized that the heart of Bain’s work remains profoundly human. AI can accelerate research or generate possibilities, but it doesn’t replace the judgment, empathy, and creativity required to make strategic choices.
Strategy still involves navigating tradeoffs, shaping distinctive paths forward, and collaborating closely with clients, areas where human insight continues to be essential.
David reflected on this balance: “What makes this moment exciting is the combination of cutting-edge AI innovation and the people you get to build it with. That’s what makes Bain a fantastic place to grow your career.”
For anyone considering a role at Bain—whether in consulting, analytics, operations, design, research, or product management—this intersection of innovation and collaboration offers a compelling opportunity: the chance to shape the future of work while learning alongside talented teammates.
Looking ahead
As generative AI continues to evolve, Bain expects even more ways to help organizations reshape how they work, deliver value, and imagine new possibilities. One message from the webinar was clear: curiosity, adaptability, and teamwork will be just as important as technical skill.
For those motivated by complex problems, collaborative teams, and the opportunity to influence real change, this is an exciting moment to consider a career at Bain.
Stay in the loop on future conversations
Don’t miss upcoming Bain Breaks It Down events and insights from teams across the firm. Bain Breaks It Down is a global webinar series open to anyone interested in learning more about life at Bain, featuring Bainies from around the world sharing the industries they work in, the problems they solve, and what it’s really like to build a career here.
