McKinsey CEO Reveals 25,000 AI Agents Now Working Alongside 40,000 Human Employees

McKinsey’s Workforce Transformation

Global consulting powerhouse McKinsey & Company now counts over 60,000 “employees” — but not all are human. CEO Bob Sternfels disclosed that 25,000 of them are AI agents, working in tandem with more than 40,000 human staff. The firm’s vision is to ensure every consultant is supported by at least one AI agent to boost efficiency and productivity.

Rapid Growth of AI Agents

Speaking at CES in Las Vegas, Sternfels highlighted how McKinsey’s use of AI agents has skyrocketed from just a few thousand to nearly 25,000 in under two years. In a Harvard Business Review IdeaCast episode, he confirmed the company’s ambition: within the next 18 months, every employee will be “enabled by one or more agents.”

What AI Agents Do

Unlike basic chatbots, these agents are autonomous systems capable of breaking down problems, designing workflows, executing tasks, and delivering outputs with minimal human input. At McKinsey, they handle research, data analysis, document preparation, and client deliverables — tasks traditionally managed by junior consultants.

The “25-Squared” Model

Sternfels described the firm’s AI‑driven transformation as the “25‑squared” model: expanding client‑facing roles by 25% while reducing non‑client‑facing positions by a similar margin. AI agents have already saved 1.5 million hours in the past year, producing 2.5 million charts in six months and freeing consultants to focus on strategy, client engagement, and decision‑making.

Human Edge Still Matters

Despite the rise of AI, Sternfels emphasized that people remain irreplaceable in three critical areas: setting aspirations, exercising judgment, and fostering creativity. However, the impact on jobs is evident — McKinsey’s non‑client‑facing workforce has shrunk by about a quarter, even as productivity in those functions has increased by 10%.

Industry Implications

With 25,000 AI agents now part of its workforce, McKinsey joins global giants like Amazon in aggressively deploying AI for efficiency. While the company insists AI complements rather than replaces humans, the gradual shift of routine tasks to machine intelligence is reshaping hiring practices and the future of consulting.