McKinsey & Company will incorporate an AI-powered client simulation into its interview process for entry-level business analyst roles, according to The Wall Street Journal. The simulation, designed to mirror 80% of typical consultant-client interactions, requires candidates to engage in a 10-minute conversation with an AI-generated client scenario. The tool, currently in testing for undergraduate applicants in select North American offices this fall, does not evaluate candidates autonomously; human interviewers will observe and assess performance alongside the AI interaction. McKinsey stated the simulation aims to prepare candidates for real-world scenarios without replicating unrealistic or 'unhinged' client behaviors. The initiative follows broader industry experimentation with AI avatars in hiring, including trials by other firms testing similar tools for recruitment purposes. Hundreds of applicants may encounter the simulation during the upcoming recruitment cycle.