Model ML Expands Global Footprint as BDO India Adopts AI Operating System for M&A

BDO India has integrated Model ML into its live transaction advisory workflows, marking a significant step in the professional services sector's shift from general-purpose AI to specialized financial operating systems. By automating high-volume document analysis and diligence, the firm aims to scale its deal capacity while maintaining rigorous compliance standards.

What was announced

BDO India is the latest major advisory firm to move Model ML into production, following similar deployments by Deloitte and PwC. The platform serves as an AI operating system designed specifically for financial and professional services, automating output-heavy tasks such as financial modeling, memorandum drafting, and transaction analysis. In its first eight weeks of live use at BDO, deal teams processed over 25,000 documents and generated more than 14,000 AI-driven review comments. The firm reported that usage in the eighth week was six times higher than in the first, with teams asking more than 10,000 questions of the system.

Model ML operates on a model-agnostic basis, routing specific tasks to the most efficient provider—including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google—based on the "Model ML Composite" benchmark for accuracy, latency, and cost. This implementation follows a global rollout of AI agents at PwC that began in July and a multi-year agreement with Deloitte for specialist agents focused on document review and transaction analysis. The platform is also utilized by major financial institutions including HSBC, Santander, and FT Partners.

"We selected Model ML because it's more than just a generalist tool with a finance skin on it. It helps us do the specific things that we do in an M&A process - document review, diligence analysis. By going model-agnostic, we know that we are getting the best balance of speed and cost,"

Udit Gandhi, Senior Partner at Deloitte.

The companies involved

Model ML is a specialized AI developer that has raised over $100 million within its first 18 months of operation, reaching a valuation exceeding $1 billion. The company positions itself as an "AI operating system" for the financial sector, focusing on workflows where general-purpose large language models often struggle with specific formatting and data context requirements. Its roster includes the "Big Four" accounting firms and MBB consultancies. Deloitte, one of its major partners, is a global professional services giant with a significant presence in the fintech and insurance sectors. FF News has tracked Deloitte's extensive influence in the market, particularly its analysis of operational transformations. BDO India is one of India's largest accounting and advisory firms, providing tax, advisory, and business monitoring services. PwC, another key user, is a global network of firms providing assurance, advisory, and tax services. These organizations are part of a broader trend where the largest consulting firms have committed more than $10 billion to AI investment since 2023 to modernize their client deliverables.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed Model ML’s rapid ascent in the fintech space. We recently reported on the company’s executive expansion in Model ML Appoints Former Salesforce Ventures Head Alex Kayyal as CFO Following $1B Valuation, which highlighted its growing financial maturity. The firm’s international growth was also a focal point in Model ML Expands APAC Footprint with New Tokyo Office and Key Evercore Hire. Additionally, we have covered the broader strategic initiatives of its partners, such as in UK Insurers Could Unlock £500m in Savings via AI and Operational Transformation, which detailed Deloitte’s research into the cost-saving potential of automated technologies within the insurance industry.

What this means

The move by BDO India signals that the "honeymoon phase" of AI experimentation in professional services is ending, replaced by a demand for production-ready systems that handle actual client deliverables. For the broader fintech sector, this highlights a shift away from single-model dependency. By using a model-agnostic "operating system," firms are insulating themselves against the volatility of individual AI labs while forcing providers to compete on specific financial benchmarks. This puts pressure on generalist AI platforms to prove they can handle the nuance of M&A and diligence without the need for heavy manual oversight, which remains the primary bottleneck in professional services.