The future of consulting is a real-time dashboard where humans monitor the work of AI agents, IBM says

IBM's consulting division is shifting the paradigm of traditional consulting by introducing a groundbreaking real-time dashboard that allows human consultants to oversee AI agents as they operate. Mohamad Ali, the senior vice president of IBM Consulting, recently showcased this innovative tool, emphasizing that it represents a significant evolution from conventional methods like slide decks and memos. Known as 'Consulting Advantage,' this dashboard was designed to empower IBM's consultants to effectively manage teams of AI agents. Launched in early 2024 for internal use, it has now been made available to clients, enabling them to scale their own AI operations. The firm is at the forefront of integrating digital workers into client engagements, with over 150 projects currently utilizing AI alongside human staff. For instance, in a typical security operations scenario, human investigators historically spent up to 45 minutes analyzing logs during an alert. However, at IBM, AI-driven digital workers are streamlining this process. They initiate an investigation plan and work concurrently on various aspects of the issue, significantly reducing the time needed to complete analyses from 45 minutes to just a few minutes. The findings are then presented to a human consultant, who verifies the results and acts on the highlighted recommendations. In January alone, this AI-supported approach enabled IBM to conduct an impressive 52,000 investigations. The company's pivot towards AI has been a game-changer, with its generative AI segment valued at $12.5 billion during the latest earnings call. Consulting revenue has also seen substantial growth, rising to over $21 billion in 2025 from approximately $20.7 billion in 2024. With a history that dates back decades, IBM Consulting continues to adapt in a rapidly changing market. Following the acquisition of PwC's consulting arm in 2002, IBM has established itself as a significant player in the consulting landscape, competing with both traditional firms and tech-focused companies like Accenture. Ali highlights that their focus is less on market strategy and more on implementing corporate strategies in an era where collaboration with AI agents is becoming increasingly essential.