Management Consulting - A Soon-to-be Thing of the Past?
5/15/25, 3:00 AM
Until now, generative AI could assist with ideation and summarization. But the formatting, refinement, and visual presentation still required human intervention. The result felt more like a draft than a deliverable.
This latest feature eliminates that barrier. The output now mirrors the expected standard of executive communications. It resembles the type of work typically delivered by elite consulting firms or in-house strategy teams.
Reports that once required several individuals working across research, analysis, writing, and design can now be generated by a single knowledge worker using AI tools—provided they understand how to structure their inquiry and validate the results.
Structural Impact on White-Collar Work
The implications of this are wide-ranging. According to the McKinsey Global Institute, 30% of hours worked across white-collar roles are now automatable using generative AI. Gartner predicts that by 2026, 75% of enterprise content will be generated by AI. The productivity gains are undeniable—but so is the organizational disruption.
Leaders must prepare for three critical shifts:
The devaluation of manual formatting and synthesis tasks
The elevation of strategic thinking, editing, and contextual judgment
The acceleration of output expectations across every layer of an organization
A significant development in generative AI has quietly redefined a core function of modern white-collar work. OpenAI has released a new feature inside ChatGPT that allows users to generate and download structured, client-ready PDF reports. These documents are not simply text exports. They include polished layouts, visual elements, citations, tables, and clear formatting—delivered within minutes.
This advancement is not just technical. It is strategic.
Across nearly every industry, a large share of mid-level professionals—particularly those in management, consulting, policy, and research—are paid to perform the following task cycle:
Conduct research
Synthesize information
Format the findings
Deliver polished documentation for senior decision-makers
This process consumes a significant amount of professional bandwidth. In fact, internal studies show that white-collar mid-management employees spend nearly 80% of their non-meeting time preparing presentations, briefs, and summary reports.
That workflow has now been compressed. What once took days or weeks can now be produced with a few precise prompts and several clicks.
The New Standard of Output
Preparing for the Next Phase
Strategic Takeaways for Leadership
Reassess the structure of knowledge work If professionals are spending hours formatting decks or drafting briefs, those hours must now be justified by higher-level insights or interpretation.
Invest in AI fluency, not just AI access Tools alone are not the differentiator. The ability to frame questions, guide outputs, verify results, and communicate with clarity is where human value remains critical.
Redefine what it means to deliver value The delivery of accurate, well-structured information is no longer sufficient. Organizations must reward synthesis, originality, and discernment.
Shorten turnaround cycles Internal and external expectations for deliverables will compress significantly. Teams must be able to meet those expectations without compromising quality.
Rethink consulting expenditures Many functions traditionally outsourced to boutique consulting firms can now be executed internally—provided your team is equipped with the right tools and capabilities.
How to Access the Feature
To try this new capability:
Use ChatGPT with GPT-4 (available to Pro users)
Navigate to the “Deep Research Assistant” via the Explore GPTs section
Input your request—clearly structured and scoped
Wait for the AI to generate a full report, including citations and visuals
Click “Export PDF”
Review and perform quality control before sharing
This workflow is already being integrated into enterprise teams and consulting workflows across sectors.
Generative AI will not replace entire jobs immediately. However, it will continue to break down roles into component tasks—and replace the most repetitive and time-consuming ones first.
For organizations aiming to remain relevant and competitive, this is the moment to reimagine workflows, retrain teams, and restructure what it means to be productive.
How HerWILL Can Help
At HerWILL, we understand that transformation is not only technological—it is cultural. From capability development to behavioral change, we work closely with institutions ready to embrace this new reality with integrity and clarity.
To learn more, visit HerWILL.org or reach out directly.
The landscape has changed. The tools are available. The leadership decisions begin now.
P.S. As detected by an AI writing analyzer tool, 75% of this newsletter is written by AI with human direction and editing. :)
