From Hype to ROI: AI's Real Role in Private Markets

The AI conversation in private equity has moved on. It's no longer about what's possible — it's about what's working, what's worth building, and what actually moves the needle on returns. Jesse Thomas of Advent brings a practitioner's perspective on how data science teams are being deployed inside PE firms and across portfolio companies, from deal acceleration to churn modelling to workflow-embedded automation.In conversation with Joel Burnette of BlueFlame AI, the discussion cuts through the noise on build-vs-buy decisions, the enduring importance of clean data, and where human judgement remains irreplaceable as automation rises.