There’s a lot of noise around AI at the moment.

Depending on who you listen to, it’s either going to transform consulting overnight or make experienced consultants obsolete.

I don’t personally believe either of those things.

What I do believe is that AI is changing how consulting work is carried out. And for experienced independent consultants, that’s actually a good thing.

The reality is that AI is very good at some of the activities that have traditionally taken up a lot of consultancy time.

It can summarise information, structure thinking, produce first drafts and accelerate research. Tasks that might previously have taken days can now be completed in hours.

But let’s be honest about it. Those activities were never where the real value was.

Clients don’t engage experienced consultants because they can produce a PowerPoint deck faster than anyone else.

They engage them because they bring judgement and experience.

They know how to navigate complexity. They understand stakeholder dynamics. They can spot risks that don’t appear in the data. They know when the technically correct answer isn’t the answer that will actually work.

That’s the part AI can’t replicate.

In many ways, AI is simply removing some of the administration and effort that sits around that judgement.

The value doesn’t disappear. It becomes more visible.

Why AI fluency matters

I think every consultant should be spending time learning how to use AI tools effectively.

Not because they’re going to replace you.

Because they can make you significantly more productive.

The consultants who will benefit most aren’t necessarily the youngest or the most technical. They’re the ones who combine strong professional judgement with an understanding of where AI helps and where it doesn’t.

That’s a really important distinction.

Using AI isn’t about accepting whatever answer it gives you.

It’s about knowing when it’s useful, when it’s incomplete and when it’s simply wrong.

That requires experience.

Anyone can generate output.

Not everyone can evaluate it.

The consultants who learn how to do both will have a significant advantage.

The importance of trusted networks

There’s another reason I don’t think AI changes the fundamentals of consulting.

Clients buy trust.  They always have.

A polished piece of analysis is no longer difficult to generate. AI has made that much more accessible to everyone.

What remains difficult is knowing who and what to trust when the stakes are high.

That’s where professional reputation and networks continue to matter.

When a client engages someone through a trusted recommendation, they’re not just buying expertise. They’re buying confidence.

Confidence that this person has delivered before.

Confidence that others would work with them again.

Confidence that their judgement can be relied upon.

No AI model can create that.

It takes many, many years to build.

What this means for consultants

The consultants who are likely to thrive over the next few years won’t be the ones resisting AI.

Nor will they be the ones blindly trusting it.

They’ll be the people who combine experience, judgement and strong professional networks with an ability to use new tools effectively.

That’s a powerful combination.

The technology will continue to evolve.

What clients value most is unlikely to change nearly as quickly.

They still need people who can make sense of uncertainty, make difficult decisions and help organisations move forward.

AI can help with the process.

Experience is still what makes the difference.

About the author, Julie Crawford:

Julie spent 7 years at Accenture focusing primarily on Strategy, CRM and Process improvement projects within the travel industry. She went on to work for Carlson Wagonlit Travel for a further 7 years leading the EMEA Hotel Sourcing Group and UK Meetings and Events.