Study of AI Service Providers in IT Consulting, Marketing, and Law

Abstract: This study employs a Gioia analysis to investigate the AI services offered within three distinct professional service sectors in Sweden: IT consulting, marketing, and legal services. Utilizing a list of companies from a prior KTH project and publicly accessible information, we applied a cross-sectoral Gioia analysis to systematically categorize, compare, and understand the types of AI services provided and how these offerings differ between sectors. The objective of this scholarly pursuit is twofold. Firstly, it seeks to develop a cohesive and comprehensive taxonomy that clarifies the AI utilization within the selected domains, providing a clearer perspective on the diverse AI services offered and their respective implications. Secondly, it aims to discern the notable commonalities and distinctions in AI services across the said sectors, highlighting the specific ways in which AI integration manifests within each domain in Sweden. Our research reveals several shared trends, including AI-driven data analysis and management, automation, real-time monitoring, and personalization. Despite these commonalities, each sector leverages AI in a unique way, emphasizing aspects like cybersecurity in IT consulting, ad optimization in marketing, and legal document scrutiny in legal services. We further discuss practical implications, such as elevated operational efficiency, potential shifts in professional focus, and the emergence of AI service providers as indispensable intermediaries. While the adoption of AI presents numerous opportunities, it also introduces challenges, such as the democratization of specialized knowledge, which could disrupt traditional professional-client relationships. Future research avenues and study limitations are also addressed. Our findings serve as a cornerstone for both academic discourse and practical application, illuminating the nuanced impacts of AI across different business domains.