📊 Full opportunity report: The Forward-Deploy Pivot: Why Anthropic and OpenAI Are Becoming Consulting Firms in the Same Week on ThorstenMeyerAI.com — validation score, market gap, and execution plan.

Anthropic and OpenAI have each announced the formation of new enterprise services companies designed to embed their AI engineers directly into mid-sized firms, marking a strategic shift toward AI-driven consulting and signaling a challenge to traditional management consulting firms.

On May 4, Anthropic disclosed a $1.5 billion AI-native enterprise services joint venture backed by major asset managers, aiming to embed AI engineers into mid-market companies to redesign workflows around Claude. Two days later, OpenAI announced ‘DeployCo,’ a similar entity backed by PE firms with a $10 billion valuation, targeting the same mid-market segment. These moves are part of a broader strategy to position AI firms as outcome-oriented service providers, directly competing with and potentially displacing traditional consulting giants like McKinsey, BCG, and the Big Four. The structural goal is to redirect a significant share of the global $1.4 trillion IT services market, which is currently dominated by human-led consulting and systems integration firms, toward AI-augmented solutions. Industry insiders see this as a deliberate attack on the consulting industry’s core revenue model, where roughly six dollars are spent on services for every dollar spent on software, highlighting the economic opportunity for AI-native firms.

Anthropic’s joint venture involves approximately $300 million commitments from Blackstone, Hellman & Friedman, and Goldman Sachs, with other backers supporting a total of $1.5 billion. The company plans to embed its Applied AI engineers alongside its partners into verticals such as healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services, following a Palantir-inspired forward-deploy model. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s DeployCo, backed by PE giants and valued at $10 billion, aims to similarly embed AI expertise into mid-market companies, with a focus on delivering outcomes rather than just software products. Both initiatives are timed to support upcoming IPO plans, with Anthropic reportedly nearing a $40-50 billion funding round and a potential public listing as early as October 2026.

Disruption of the Traditional Consulting Industry

These developments represent a fundamental shift in how AI companies are positioning themselves in the enterprise market. By embedding AI engineers directly into client organizations, Anthropic and OpenAI aim to capture more of the value chain traditionally held by large consulting firms. This move could significantly reduce reliance on human consultants, reshape the global $1.4 trillion IT services market, and accelerate the adoption of AI-driven outcomes across industries. For investors, it signals a new growth trajectory for AI firms aiming to become outcome providers rather than just software developers, with implications for the valuation, competitive landscape, and future IPO strategies of these companies.

Strategic Shift Toward AI-Driven Consulting and IPO Positioning

The formation of these enterprise services entities follows a pattern of strategic announcements designed to position Anthropic and OpenAI ahead of their IPOs. Anthropic’s recent funding round, nearing $50 billion valuation, aims to eclipse OpenAI’s recent $852 billion valuation, with a public listing potentially as early as October 2026. The moves also reflect broader industry trends—venture capital and PE firms are backing these firms heavily, betting on a future where AI replaces or significantly augments traditional consulting services. Historically, the global IT services market has been dominated by Big Four firms and large SI players, but these new AI-native entities are targeting the lucrative mid-market segment, which is too small for traditional firms but too sophisticated for self-service software. This strategic positioning indicates a long-term shift in enterprise AI deployment and consulting models.

“Anthropic and OpenAI’s new enterprise services entities mark a deliberate effort to embed AI engineers directly into client organizations, challenging the traditional consulting industry’s revenue model.”

— Thorsten Meyer

Unclear Details of Long-Term Market Impact

It remains uncertain how quickly and extensively these AI-native consulting models will displace traditional firms, and whether clients will prefer outcome-based AI services over human-led consulting in the long term. The actual adoption rate, regulatory considerations, and competitive responses from established consulting giants are still developing factors.

Next Steps in Industry Adoption and IPO Timing

Both Anthropic and OpenAI are expected to continue expanding their enterprise services and embedding AI engineers into more client sectors. Monitoring their IPO progress, funding rounds, and market share growth will be critical in assessing the impact of this strategic pivot. Additionally, traditional consulting firms are likely to respond with their own AI initiatives, potentially leading to a reshaping of enterprise AI deployment over the next 12-24 months.

Key Questions

How do these new AI-native firms differ from traditional consulting companies?

They embed AI engineers directly into client organizations to deliver outcomes, rather than providing standalone software or advisory services, thus capturing more of the value chain.

Will this shift significantly reduce the role of human consultants?

Potentially, especially in mid-market segments where AI can provide scalable, outcome-focused solutions, but full displacement is still uncertain and will depend on client adoption and regulatory factors.

What are the implications for the global IT services market?

AI-native firms aim to redirect a substantial share of the $1.4 trillion market, especially targeting the mid-market, which could lead to a reallocation of revenue from traditional consulting and systems integrators.

When might these companies go public?

Anthropic is reportedly considering an IPO as early as October 2026, with its valuation potentially surpassing $900 billion, while OpenAI’s DeployCo is still in earlier stages of funding and valuation discussions.

Source: ThorstenMeyerAI.com