McKinsey has incorporated an AI client simulation into its job interview process for applicants.

What it means

McKinsey & Company is piloting a new interview step for some entry-level consulting candidates: a 10-minute conversation with an AI-generated client avatar (e.g., a simulated mayor). A human assessor scores the candidate's performance. The change is designed to test real-time client interaction skills in a more consistent and scalable format than traditional role-plays with senior consultants.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is well-supported by multiple credible news outlets (The Verge, Wall Street Journal, New York Post) that all report the same details, likely drawn from a McKinsey announcement or a WSJ exclusive. There is no contradiction or ambiguity in the reporting, and the descriptions are consistent across sources. The provenance is aggregated secondary, but the convergence of independent reports makes the core claim reliable.

How new

Genuinely new — the first articles appeared on October 14, 2026, and the story is being widely covered on the same day.

Go deeper

• New York Post — first to publish