McKinsey is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Databricks to help organizations unlock the full potential of gen AI. Led by QuantumBlack, AI by McKinsey, this collaboration builds on our deep relationship with Databricks to drive faster, more impactful AI adoption.
Gen AI is reshaping industries, and McKinsey research estimates its potential to generate $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion in annual economic benefits. The competitive advantage will go to organizations that can move quickly to integrate AI into their operations—turning data into intelligence and intelligence into action.
Powering AI transformation: McKinsey and Databricks
By combining McKinsey’s strategic, organizational, and implementation capabilities plus QuantumBlack’s AI expertise with Databricks’ exceptional Data Intelligence Platform, we help companies harness AI responsibly and at scale.
“We are excited to collaborate with Databricks, leveraging their advanced data intelligence technology and robust capabilities in data governance and responsible AI,” stated Ben Ellencweig, McKinsey senior partner and global lead for alliances, acquisitions, and partnerships at QuantumBlack.
Artificial intelligence
Learn how we’re helping capture the opportunity of generative AI
Built on an open lakehouse architecture, Databricks’ platform merges the best of data lakes and data warehouses, enabling organizations to process vast data volumes efficiently. The foundation is critical for gen AI applications that demand real-time analytics, deep learning, and predictive intelligence.
“Through our partnership with McKinsey, we empower businesses across various industries to launch and scale gen AI applications with a unique understanding and view of their data in production,” says Kori O’Brien, senior vice president of partnerships at Databricks. “Together, we are helping companies enhance operations with the intelligence that only gen AI can provide.”
Delivering AI impact: A case in action
Recently, McKinsey and Databricks partnered with a global metals producer to transform its operations with AI. By implementing a centralized data architecture, we were able to train and run models that delivered more than 40 use cases, including:
- predictive analytics to reduce equipment downtime and improve throughput by 12 percent
- computer vision models to detect product defects and operational anomalies
- AI-driven decision intelligence to optimize production processes
These solutions deliver real impact—enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and driving long-term AI adoption across the enterprise.
Scaling AI for sustainable competitive advantage
In every alliance, we seek partners who share our commitment to creating lasting client impact. Our collaboration with Databricks is no exception.
“Organizations across every industry are deploying gen AI solutions to reinvent how they work,” says Ben. “By integrating Databricks’ technology with QuantumBlack’s AI capabilities and McKinsey’s industry expertise, we help clients develop proprietary data, implement tailored AI guardrails, and fine-tune models—critical elements to scaling AI and achieving lasting value.”
The future of AI belongs to those who move decisively. Let’s accelerate it—together.