When AI startup Rocket launched its platform for consulting-style product strategies, they made a bold claim: businesses could get McKinsey-quality reports without the McKinsey-sized invoice. For companies that have watched consulting firms charge five or six figures for strategic advice, that’s a pitch worth examining.
Here’s what’s actually happening. Rocket offers what they call “vibe” reports—strategic business analyses that help companies decide their next moves. Think of it as the AI equivalent of hiring a strategy consultant, except instead of a team of MBAs billing by the hour, you’re working with an AI system that produces similar outputs at a fraction of the cost.
Why This Matters Now
The timing isn’t accidental. We’re entering what some are calling the “agentic era” of AI—a phase where AI systems don’t just answer questions but actively help make decisions and take actions. McKinsey’s 2026 AI Trust Maturity Survey shows organizations are making progress in trusting these systems, though gaps in strategy and governance persist.
This creates an interesting tension. Companies are becoming more comfortable with AI making recommendations, but they’re still figuring out how to govern these systems properly. Rocket is betting that businesses will trust an AI to produce strategic reports before they’ve fully solved the governance puzzle.
The Real Question: Can AI Actually Replace Consultants?
Let’s be honest about what traditional consulting firms provide. Yes, they deliver reports and recommendations. But they also bring pattern recognition from working with hundreds of companies, the ability to navigate office politics, and the credibility that comes from the firm’s brand name. When a CEO presents a McKinsey report to the board, that logo carries weight.
Rocket’s AI can analyze data, spot trends, and generate strategic frameworks. What it can’t do is read the room during a tense executive meeting or understand that the CFO and CMO haven’t spoken in three months. Strategy isn’t just about the right answer—it’s about getting people to agree on and implement that answer.
The Economics Are Compelling
Still, the cost difference is hard to ignore. Traditional consulting engagements can run from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. If Rocket can deliver 70% of the value at 10% of the cost, that’s a trade-off many businesses will take. Especially smaller companies that were priced out of the consulting market entirely.
According to research on organizational transformation, around 75% of current roles will need to be reshaped as AI embeds across workflows. That includes strategy and consulting roles. The question isn’t whether AI will change this industry—it’s how fast and how completely.
What This Means for You
If you’re running a business, Rocket represents a new option in your toolkit. Need a market analysis? A competitive assessment? A product strategy framework? You might not need to hire a consulting firm anymore. The AI can produce a solid first draft that your team can refine.
But—and this is important—you’ll need to bring your own judgment. AI systems are excellent at pattern matching and synthesis. They’re less good at understanding context, politics, and the messy human factors that determine whether a strategy actually works.
The predictions for 2026 suggest this will be a huge year for artificial intelligence. Rocket is one of 85 hot AI startups being watched closely by investors and industry observers. Their bet is that businesses want strategic thinking to be faster and cheaper, even if it means sacrificing some of the polish and prestige of traditional consulting.
For companies that have been locked out of high-end strategy advice due to cost, that’s a bet worth watching. For McKinsey and its peers, it’s a signal that their market is about to get more crowded—and more complicated.
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