This week, we explore the tectonic shifts hitting the consulting world, driven by technological upheaval and market pressures.

We look at how former McKinsey consultants are training AI models to automate consulting tasks, signaling major changes for the industry. Even McKinsey is getting in on the act, testing its own tool, "Lilli," to streamline research and planning. This automation trend is intensifying with Capgemini Invent appointing Christoph Bornschein to a new global role focused on driving initiatives using agentic AI systems. Capgemini is also partnering with Siemens to deepen ties in digital manufacturing, developing AI-native solutions using orchestrated AI agents.

But while AI looms large, we hear about the pressures facing human consultants: Reports from Germany reveal that Roland Berger consultants are facing tight market conditions, long hours, and finding their pay, around 6,800 euros a month, insufficient for the workload and fierce competition.

Meanwhile, consultancies highlight massive economic trends: McKinsey projects that increased investment in Deep-Tech could generate up to one million new jobs in Europe by 2030, potentially lifting the sector's value to one trillion dollars. We also review PwC’s finding that electric mobility is now mainstream, with over 20 percent of new cars registered globally being electric vehicles.

Finally, we cover urgent operational advice from KPMG, which released a roadmap for German data centers calling for an overhaul of cooling, waste heat utilization, and renewable energy strategies. Plus, we explore a surprising economic success story: the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that the Cologne Carnival's economic impact surged 40% since 2019 to 850 million euros, securing 6,500 jobs despite rising costs and a broader economic slowdown