New research into how corporate M&A teams are applying AI across due diligence and integration planning, where adoption is accelerating, and how organizations are expanding AI across the deal process.

Corporate acquirers are rapidly expanding the use of artificial intelligence across M&A due diligence and integration planning.

This research, produced by Transaction Advisors Institute in partnership with SS&C Intralinks, examines how corporate M&A teams are applying AI across the deal process. What began as limited experimentation is evolving into broader deployment across multiple transaction activities. Corporate M&A teams are using AI to strengthen document review, perform additional diligence, identify risk, support market analysis, and improve execution capacity.

At the same time, organizations continue to navigate important questions related to governance, confidentiality, compliance, and trust.

The findings provide perspective on where AI adoption is accelerating and how corporate acquirers are positioning themselves for the next phase of AI-enabled transaction execution.

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly important component of the M&A process.

The research suggests corporate acquirers are pursuing AI not simply to improve efficiency, but to expand analytical capacity, strengthen diligence coverage, and enable teams to focus on higher-value activities. The highest-priority objectives include:

• Exploring what is possible with AI
• Driving staff toward higher-value activities
• Reducing internal workload
• Performing additional diligence within available timelines
• Identifying risk, anomalies, and potential red flags

The findings suggest organizations view AI as a way to strengthen the diligence process while improving how transaction teams allocate their time and expertise.

AI adoption is concentrated in practical applications that can support transaction teams immediately. The most common uses include:

• Summarizing complex documents for review
• Researching unfamiliar markets and industries
• Reviewing legal agreements
• Translating documentsMaintaining deal velocity through workflow tracking
• Reviewing financials and quality of earnings

Document review and market research have emerged as the most established applications, while more advanced use cases continue to move from pilot programs into broader deployment.

The research indicates that AI is no longer limited to isolated experiments or single-purpose applications.

Roughly two thirds of respondents report using AI across multiple diligence activities, with a meaningful group applying AI across ten or more use cases.

This suggests adoption is broadening beyond basic productivity applications and becoming increasingly integrated into transaction execution.

• 100+ corporate acquirers
• Cross-functional participation across Corporate Development, Legal, Human Resources, Integration, and operating leadership
• Survey data supported by practitioner interviews
• Focus on real transaction environments and active deal teams
• Produced in association with SS&C Intralinks