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The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on M&A Deals—Part II

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Home Perspectives The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on M&A Deals—Part II
In this two-part article, the author explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal value chain. In the first part, published in the March-April 2025 issue of The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law, the author provided a high-level overview of generative AI, discussing recent advancements and applications across various industries. He then delved into how AI is used at different stages of the M&A deal cycle, including the role AI can play in target identification, due diligence, and post-merger integration. In this conclusion, the author illustrates the practical applications and benefits of AI as it applies to the M&A deal cycle by providing an overview of M&A transactions that implemented AI tools to improve certain aspects of the M&A deal process. Among other things, the author also discusses the limitations of the use of AI and why, despite the efficiencies gained through the use of AI, human expertise remains crucial for interpreting and evaluating the strength of AI-generated insights, making strategic decisions, and managing complex interpersonal dynamics and efficiencies.

Authors: Peter A. Emmi

Case Studies: Recent Deals Utilizing AI

The transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) can be seen through several high-profile acquisitions, each of which used AI at various steps along the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process.

Salesforce and Tableau (2019)

In 2019, Salesforce acquired Tableau, a leading analytics platform, for $15.7 billion, in a strategic move that was aimed at enhancing its analytics capabilities and providing customers with advanced data visualization tools. AI played a pivotal role in this acquisition by enabling Salesforce to analyze vast amounts of customer data and market trends. AI tools were employed to assess Tableau’s market position, customer feedback, and the potential synergies between the two companies. Salesforces’ AI-aided analysis helped identify Tableau as a strategic acquisition target and ultimately enabled Salesforce to strengthen its data analytics portfolio and offer more comprehensive solutions to its customers. This, in turn, led to increased revenue and customer satisfaction.

IBM and Red Hat (2019)

Another notable AI-assisted M&A deal was IBM’s acquisition of Red Hat for $34 billion in 2019. The primary objective of IBM’s acquisition was to bolster its cloud computing services. AI-driven analytics were crucial in evaluating Red Hat’s business model and its potential fit within IBM’s strategic vision for hybrid cloud services. IBM used AI tools to assess operational efficiencies and identify integration opportunities. The acquisition positioned IBM as a stronger player in the cloud market, enabling it to leverage Red Hat’s open-source technologies and accelerate its cloud transformation strategy.

This article was initially published in The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law. To read the full article, please download the PDF below.