UBS Has an AI Tool That Can Scan 300,000 Firms in 20 Seconds

UBS Group AG has developed an artificial intelligence tool to help it offer clients potential M&A deals, able to analyze a database of over 300,000 companies in less than half a minute.

The Swiss bank built its own M&A “co-pilot” to generate buy-side ideas and identify potential buyers in sell side situations, Brice Bolinger, UBS head of M&A Switzerland said at the 27th Mergers & Acquisitions conference in Zurich on Tuesday.

The tool also identifies potential targets of activist campaigns by comparing the management tone of prepared presentations and Q&A situations. The bank said that it also sees potential ...