Transform NOW 456. The New Math of Private Equity: AI-Driven Diligence, Monitoring, and Value Creation
Feb 10, 2026
Anil Kumar, Managing Director and head of Private Equity AI at Alvarez & Marsal, applies AI to diligence, monitoring, and value creation. He recounts his path into AI leadership. The conversation covers AI-enabled diligence versus hype, a contact center case study, the first-mile vs last-mile framework, agentic monitoring with guardrails, and AI-driven shifts in investment theses.
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From Weekend Curiosity To Firmwide AI Tool
- Anil built a skunk works after his ChatGPT 3.5 moment and created Diligence GPT to speed analysis.
- The prototype cut a week of work to hours and grew into A&M Assist used by 8,000 consultants.
Model AI Impact Into Underwriting
- Do AI diligence: model revenue and cost scenarios across bull, base, and bear cases for service businesses.
- Map timing, compute/token costs, and change management to incorporate AI impacts into underwriting.
First Mile Versus Last Mile
- Use a first-mile / last-mile framework: AI handles data collection and synthesis while humans handle judgment.
- This shifts human work toward 'so what' and 'now what' decision-making and creativity.