AI in Dealmaking Has Reached a Turning Point: Insights from DealMAX 2026

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future consideration for dealmakers — it's becoming an essential part of how transactions get done today. That was a key theme discussed at DealMAX 2026, hosted by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) in Las Vegas. As a sponsor of the event, SS&C Intralinks joined leading mergers and acquisitions (M&A) professionals, investors and advisors to explore the trends shaping the future of dealmaking.

During the conference, Carolyn Vallejo of ACG sat down with Todd Partridge, SVP and head of global marketing at SS&C Intralinks, to discuss new research examining how AI is being used across the deal life cycle and what it means for firms navigating an increasingly competitive market. Below are key takeaways from the conversation:

AI adoption is accelerating across the deal life cycle

According to SS&C Intralinks’ AI in M&A Dealmaking: A Benchmark Study, produced with Reuters Events, AI has moved well beyond experimentation. Nearly half of dealmakers surveyed reported using AI throughout the entire deal life cycle, spanning preparation, diligence and execution. More importantly, many are already seeing measurable benefits, with nearly one-third reporting meaningful time savings from their AI investments.

"The pace of AI innovation and adoption continues to be a bit breathtaking," Partridge noted during the discussion. What began several years ago with use cases such as document translation, redaction and summarization has rapidly evolved into broader workflow integration across deal teams.

A generational divide remains

While adoption continues to grow, the research also uncovered a notable difference between junior and senior deal professionals.

Analysts are embracing AI at significantly higher rates than managing directors and partners, reflecting both familiarity with the technology and differing levels of comfort with its risks. The findings suggest that while younger professionals are focused on productivity gains, senior leaders remain cautious about issues such as accuracy, governance and security.

That caution is understandable. Firms reported using multiple AI tools throughout the deal process, and many (80 percent) have already encountered challenges related to inaccurate outputs or data security concerns.

Maximizing the benefits while managing the risks

Despite these concerns, the overall sentiment among dealmakers remains positive. The productivity benefits are increasingly difficult to ignore, making the conversation less about whether to adopt AI and more about how to do so responsibly.

Partridge emphasized the importance of establishing clear governance frameworks, creating firm-wide AI strategies and ensuring sensitive deal information remains protected. As deal teams incorporate AI into daily workflows, maintaining control over confidential data becomes increasingly critical.

Many organizations are still moving information between data rooms and external AI applications, creating unnecessary security risks. The future, Partridge suggested, lies in leveraging AI capabilities within secure dealmaking environments that allow firms to benefit from automation without compromising confidentiality.

Watch the full conversation from DealMAX 2026 to learn more about how AI is reshaping the future of dealmaking.