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Anthropic and OpenAI have announced the formation of new enterprise services units designed to embed AI engineers into mid-sized companies, marking a strategic shift toward consulting-like operations. These moves aim to capture a significant share of the $1.4 trillion global IT services market and challenge established consulting firms.

On May 4, Anthropic, backed by a consortium of major asset managers, revealed a $1.5 billion AI-native enterprise services company focused on integrating its Applied AI engineers into mid-market companies across sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services. The firm’s approach is modeled after Palantir’s forward-deployed engineering, aiming to redesign workflows around Anthropic’s Claude AI system.

Two days later, on May 6, OpenAI announced a similar initiative called ‘DeployCo,’ backed by private equity firms including TPG, Bain Capital, and others, with a $4 billion commitment and a valuation of $10 billion—six times larger than Anthropic’s new venture. These parallel announcements signal a coordinated effort to position AI firms as direct competitors to traditional management and IT consulting firms.

Both initiatives are part of a broader narrative: these companies are seeking durable revenue streams through vertical productization and deployment, with plans to support IPOs as early as late 2026. The strategic intent is to capture the mid-market segment, which is too small for Big 4 consulting firms but too sophisticated for self-service software, representing a structural opening for AI-driven services.

Implications for the Consulting Industry

The moves by Anthropic and OpenAI mark a fundamental shift in the enterprise services landscape, threatening to redirect a significant share of the $6-to-$1 spent on services versus software. By embedding AI engineers directly into client operations, these firms aim to replace or augment traditional consulting and systems integration firms, especially in the mid-market segment. This could reshape industry dynamics, challenge the dominance of the Big 4 and major SIs, and accelerate the adoption of AI-driven workflows across sectors.

Industry Background and Strategic Trends

Historically, the global IT and management consulting market has been dominated by firms like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, and the Big 4 accounting and consulting giants, with annual revenues around $1.4 trillion. These firms have relied heavily on human consultants for strategy, systems integration, and operational improvements. Recent technological advances and the rise of AI have opened opportunities for specialized AI-native firms to deliver outcomes traditionally provided by consultants, but with greater efficiency and at lower cost.

In April, Sequoia partner Julien Bek highlighted the emerging trend: ‘the world’s next great company won’t sell software at all, but outcomes—legal services, financial analysis, insurance processing—delivered by AI.’ The strategic positioning of Anthropic and OpenAI aligns with this vision, aiming to provide outcome-based services at scale, targeting the mid-market segment that is currently underserved.

“the world’s next great company won’t sell software at all, but outcomes—legal services, financial analysis, insurance processing—delivered by AI”

— Julien Bek, Sequoia partner

Unclear Aspects of Industry Impact

It remains unclear how quickly and extensively these AI-native enterprise services will displace traditional consulting firms. The long-term adoption rates, client acceptance, and regulatory considerations are still developing. Additionally, the exact competitive responses from Big 4 firms and traditional SIs are not yet confirmed, nor is the precise timing of potential market share shifts.

Future Developments and Market Response

Over the coming months, further details about the new entities’ client deployments and revenue performance are expected to emerge. Watch for the progression of these firms’ IPO plans, potential expansion into other sectors, and strategic responses from established consulting giants. Monitoring client adoption and the evolution of competitive dynamics will be key to understanding the full impact of this structural shift.

Key Questions

How will these AI-native firms compete with traditional consulting companies?

They aim to embed AI engineers directly into client operations to deliver outcomes more efficiently, targeting mid-sized firms and offering a vertically integrated alternative to traditional consulting and SI firms.

What sectors are these new enterprise services targeting?

Primarily healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, retail, and real estate—areas where mid-market companies seek operational improvements and workflow redesigns.

Could this lead to job losses in the consulting industry?

Potentially, as AI-driven automation and embedded engineering could replace some traditional consulting roles, especially in execution and operational redesign.

Will the Big 4 and SIs respond to these developments?

Yes, they are likely to adapt by developing their own AI-driven offerings and integrating more advanced automation and embedded engineering services, which could reshape industry competition over the next 1-2 years.

Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com