Introduction: The AI revolution is here — and your role is changing faster than you think
AI is everywhere, and your role is changing faster than you think. You can read predictions everywhere like: “Within five years, AI will take over a large part of the consultancy.” LinkedIn is full of experts and CEOs warning about job losses. But what does this really mean for consultants, analysts, strategists and other professionals?
Is AI a threat that makes your work obsolete, or an opportunity to become smarter, more strategic and more valuable? As often, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. AI is changing the playing field rapidly, but the real question is: how do you play along?
In this blog, you'll discover three major challenges of AI for professionals and, more importantly, how to use AI to strengthen, rather than undermine, your critical thinking skills.
🚀 Are you ready for the future of your profession?
1. The future of expertise: AI as a consultant or assistant?
We live in a time where AI generates reports, reviews legal documents, and prepares complex financial forecasts in seconds. Does that mean the end of the consultant or expert?
AI as a 'full-fledged consultant'? Not hot.
AI excels in data processing and pattern recognition, but lacks human judgment, empathy, and context. An AI model can prepare a financial report, but does it really understand the strategic impact for a customer? It can scan a contract, but does it sense the nuances of the law?
AI was an assistant? Certainly.
As a supportive tool, AI can collect mountains of data, identify trends, and provide suggestions. This gives you more space for what really adds value:
- • Critical analysis and decision making
- • Personal and strategic advice
- • Creative problem solving
Example: AI in the legal sector
Large firms like Baker McKenzie use AI tools to filter case law at lightning speed. Days of searching are reduced to a few minutes. The final interpretation and application? They remain human work.
Key message
AI doesn't replace expertise; it accelerates and enriches it. The question, therefore, is not whether AI changes your work, but how to empower yourself with AI.
2. AI's three biggest pain points in consultancy and expertise
AI offers unprecedented opportunities, but it also raises fundamental questions about reliability, skills, and the future of work. Let's take a look at the three biggest pain points — and see immediately how you can deal with them.
1. AI trust and reliability: How do you know if AI is right?
AI models sometimes seem flawless, but can produce convincing sounding nonsense (“hallucinations”). In fields where decisions have a major impact, such as consultancy or legal matters, this is a real risk.
Example: from success to failure
In contrast to Baker McKenzie's example, in a lawsuit against Colombian airline Avianca, Levidow & Oberman's lawyers used ChatGPT to cite previous similar lawsuits, so writes The Guardian. Lawyers can try to send cases to the same ruling based on case law, but in this case, previous cases appeared to have been partly or entirely invented by ChatGPT. This caused great embarrassment for the firm and the judge ruled that the lawyer was required to take a GenAI course and pay a fine to correct his mistake.
How do you solve this?
✅ AI should be a tool, not a truth speaker. Always monitor AI output with reliable sources.
✅ Use AI for analysis, not final conclusions. People remain ultimately responsible.
✅ Provide a “human-in-the-loop” approach. AI speeds up work, but control remains with the expert.
2. AI and skill shift: What will be the new must-have skillset?
AI takes over routine tasks, such as desk research or data analysis. This means that professionals must focus on what AI can't do: critical judgment, creative thinking and real contact with customers.
Which skills count now?
- • AI literacy: Knowing how AI data was created and what limitations there are.
- • Critical & Strategic Thinking: You remain ultimately responsible for interpretation and decision-making.
- • Empathy & Communication: Customers want an advisor who understands their situation, not just the output of a model.
Practical example
Major consulting parties such as Deloitte or PwC are using AI tools such as Copilot to optimize their workflow. country to do market research at lightning speed. This actually allows the consultant to spend more time on strategic advice and human nuances—exactly the areas where AI falls short.
3. The fear of losing a job: Is AI a threat?
Every technological revolution comes with fear. From the industrial revolution to the advent of computers, people always feared that technology would replace them. But what turned out? New technology doesn't destroy work, it transforms it.
📉 What is disappearing?
❌ Repetitive tasks such as manual data analysis
❌ Basic reports and easy desk research
📈 What's growing?
✅ The demand for hybrid professionals who can use AI
✅ Roles that require creative and strategic thinking
✅ New opportunities for AI-assisted consultancy
According to Excel: once upon a time, accountants feared it would eliminate their work, but instead, it gave them more powerful tools and increased their influence. AI does the same for consultants, strategists, and analysts.
Key message
AI is changing what we do, but we don't why we do this. It remains about solving organizational issues, creating value and building relationships. Instead of fighting AI, you can embrace it and take your role to the next level.
3. How professionals can embrace AI
AI can automate repetitive tasks, giving you more time for more in-depth analyses. At the same time, there is a real risk that your critical thinking skills will decline if you see AI as infallible. Research by Microsoft and Carnegie Mellon University shows that professionals are more likely to rely on AI under time pressure, which can lead to tunnel vision.
However, AI can correct the critical thinking process strengthen when you're not just the output, but also the input consciously shapes. In other words, before consulting AI, ask yourself the questions:
- • What exactly do I want to achieve?
- • How do I want to approach this?
- • What data or insights do I need?
- • How can AI serve as a tool instead of being ultimately responsible?
AI & Critical Thinking: A Double-Edged Sword
Benefit: AI removes repetitive work, leaving you more time for real thinking.
Pitfall: If you blindly trust AI, you're missing out on the opportunity to sharpen your own judgment. “Garbage in, garbage out” also applies here: without a clear question, you run the risk of the AI steering you in the wrong direction.
Tip: A publication in MIT Sloan Management Review (2024) indicates that professionals who consciously think about which input they give AI, ultimately making better decisions than professionals who only see AI as a ready-made solution.
From AI tool to “sparring partner”
Do you want to make optimal use of AI? Make it a full-fledged interlocutor in your thought process.
- 1. Ask the Right Questions
Before questioning AI, formulate your goal clearly. What specific problem do you want to solve? The sharper your question, the more valuable the AI output. - 2. Start with a Crude Analysis
Let AI do the first data collection work. This gives you a solid basis on which to build further. - 3. Activate your Critical Thinking Ability
Don't rely on the AI response blindly. Check underlying sources, ask yourself if the patterns found are logical, and actively look for alternative explanations. - 4. Iterate and Inquire
Use AI to ask follow-up questions or have scenarios calculated. This gives your analysis more depth and nuance.
Example in Consultancy
Let's say you want to develop a market strategy for a new tech startup. First, you formulate which key figures you need (e.g. demographic data or competition analysis). AI can provide initial exploration in a few minutes. You then assess whether the data is correct, look for gaps or illogical connections and ask additional questions. This creates an iterative process in which you sentient Using AI to think more clearly.
AI as a catalyst for impact
When you combine AI with a conscious, critical mindset, you get the best of both worlds: lightning-fast data processing and human judgment.
- More focus on strategy
Less time spent on repetitive tasks means more space for in-depth analysis and human contact. - Better decisions
By using AI as a source of input instead of the end station, you maintain control over the quality and relevance of the results. - Increased critical thinking skills
Every time you think about what to ask the AI, it sharpens your own insight. Instead of passively consuming, you are actively challenged to think about your goals and questions.
Conclusion: Critical thinking starts with the question you ask, not with the answer that AI gives. Professionals who approach AI as sparring partner—from input to output—increase their added value and create space for innovation.
There are countless AI tools on the market, but which ones provide real added value for consultants and other knowledge workers? Below is a compact selection, organized by their most relevant applications. With each tool, don't just think about what you can do with it, but also how it helps you work more strategically and critically.
1. Data analysis & insights
- • ChatGPT/CLAUDE/Gemini
Ideal for an initial, rapid analysis of complex issues. Ask specific questions to generate reports, summaries, or new perspectives. Use it as a sparring partner, not as a final decision maker. - • Tableau/Power BI
Helping you turn data into clear dashboards. This makes it easier to discover patterns and trends, so you can focus on the strategic translation. - • Excel with AI integration
For professionals who already use Excel intensively. The built-in AI features (such as automated formulas and “Ideas”) provide quick insights and suggestions for further analysis.
2. Content & reporting
- • Notion AI/KLM notebook
Support you with research, notes and documentation. They automatically generate summaries or new perspectives based on your existing content, so that you can arrive at a clear report more quickly. - • Grammarly/Jasper AI
These writing assistants provide smooth, professional texts. This allows you to better focus on content and story, while the tool helps you with style, tone and correct language.
3. Workflow optimization
- • Zapier with AI integrations
Makes it possible to automate repetitive tasks—for example, forwarding completed forms or synchronizing data between apps. This saves you a lot of time and reduces errors. - • Fireflies AI
Takes notes during online meetings, makes summaries and suggests action points. This way, you can focus on interacting with participants and not typing notes.
Pro tip: Start small and grow organically
AI only provides real value if you gradually integrate it into your daily workflow.
- 1. Choose one tool that matches your most time-consuming or frustrating job.
- 2. Learn the basics and experiment with small projects or assignments.
- 3. Evaluate & scale as soon as you notice the impact the tool has on your productivity and critical thinking process.
By continuing to consciously think about the why country how with each tool, you avoid just running after the latest hype. This is how you build a solid, future-proof way of working that really helps you and your customers move forward.
The key message: AI is an opportunity, not a threat
🚀 The professionals who use AI smartly will be tomorrow's leaders.
AI can change your work, but it's up to you to decide how. The future belongs to those who see technology not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity to grow and excel.
🔹 Don't ask yourself, “Will AI take over my work?”
🔹 Ask yourself, “How can I use AI to become even more valuable?”
The choice is yours.
Conclusion: Why AI is a Catalyst for Growth and Innovation
AI is not a passing trend or threat, but a game changer that is fundamentally changing the way we work. For consultants, strategists, and other professionals, this doesn't mean that their expertise is disappearing — quite the opposite. In fact, the human factor becomes more valuable if you use AI smartly as an extension of your thinking and actions.
What we saw
- • AI takes over repetitive and time-consuming tasks, leaving more room for strategy, innovation and customer relationships.
- • Professionals who understand and use AI strategically will become “hybrid experts” and make a difference in the future.
- • Critical thinking, creativity, and empathy remain irreplaceable in an AI-driven world.
Make AI work for you, not against you
The question isn't whether AI changes your work—it already does. The real question is how to use AI to deepen your expertise, increase productivity and stay relevant in your field.
Your next step?
- Experiment with AI tools in your daily tasks.
- Keep learning and develop the skills of the new hybrid professional.
- Don't see AI as a threat, but as an opportunity to become smarter, faster, and more strategic.
🔮 The future isn't something you experience, it's something you shape. How will you use AI to become the leader of tomorrow?
List of sources:
Baker McKenzie. (n.d.). Baker McKenzie AI Solutions for Law. https://www.bakermckenzie.com/en/expertise/practice-areas/artificial-intelligence
Deloitte. (2024). The future of AI in consulting: Trends and insights. Deloitte Insights. https://www2.deloitte.com/global/en/pages/consulting/articles/ai-in-consulting.html
McKinsey & Company. (2024). How AI is reshaping consulting and professional services. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/how-ai-is-reshaping-consulting
Microsoft & Carnegie Mellon University. (2023). AI and Critical Thinking: Enhancing or Hindering Cognitive Skills? https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/publication/ai-and-critical-thinking-study
The Guardian. (2023, June 23). Two US lawyers fined for submitting fake court citations generated by ChatGPT. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/jun/23/two-us-lawyers-fined-submitting-fake-court-citations-chatgpt
Advocacy. (2023, July 4). US lawyer faces trial after AI blunder. https://www.advocatie.nl/actueel/amerikaanse-advocaat-moet-voor-straf-op-cursus-na-ai-blunder/
PwC. (2024). AI-powered decision making in professional services. https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/industries/ai-in-professional-services.html
Windows News. (2024). Microsoft study warns about the impact of AI on critical thinking. https://nl.windowsnoticias.com/estudio-de-microsoft-advierte-sobre-el-impacto-de-la-ia-en-el-pensamiento-critico/