Is Automation Anywhere merging with C3.ai?

Current Status (as of March 2026)

Reports of a merger between Automation Anywhere and C3.ai that circulated in late 2025 have not materialized into a confirmed transaction as of March 2026. The two companies have engaged in partnership discussions focused on technology integration rather than a corporate merger.

What Happened

Late 2025 Reports

Industry analysts and media outlets reported in Q4 2025 that Automation Anywhere and C3.ai were in exploratory discussions. The speculation centered on combining C3.ai's enterprise AI platform (which provides predictive analytics, AI-powered forecasting, and machine learning model deployment) with Automation Anywhere's RPA capabilities to create an "AI + automation" offering.

Partnership vs Merger

As of March 2026, the relationship appears to be a technology partnership rather than a merger. The companies have announced integration between C3.ai's AI models and Automation Anywhere's Automation Co-Pilot, enabling enterprise customers to trigger AI predictions within RPA workflows. No equity transaction, acquisition agreement, or merger filing has been publicly disclosed.

Automation Anywhere's Current Position

• IPO status: Automation Anywhere filed confidentially for an IPO in 2024 but has not proceeded with a public offering as of March 2026. Market conditions and the company's growth trajectory are cited as factors in the timing decision.
• Valuation: The company was last valued at approximately $6.8 billion based on its 2021 Series C funding round.
• AI strategy: Automation Anywhere has expanded its AI capabilities through Automation Co-Pilot (generative AI for process automation), IQ Bot (intelligent document processing), and the Process Discovery tool. These are internally developed rather than acquired from C3.ai.
• Leadership: Mihir Shukla continues as CEO.

C3.ai's Current Position

• Public company: C3.ai (NYSE: AI) reported approximately $310 million in annual revenue for fiscal year 2025.
• Focus areas: Enterprise AI applications for energy, manufacturing, financial services, and defense.
• Partnership model: C3.ai has expanded its partnership network to include major cloud providers (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and enterprise software companies.

Industry Context

The broader trend of AI and RPA convergence continues across the automation industry. UiPath, Automation Anywhere's primary competitor, has similarly expanded its AI capabilities through internal development and strategic acquisitions. Microsoft has integrated AI deeply into Power Automate through Copilot. The market expects further consolidation in the automation space, but specific merger timelines and targets remain speculative.

Editor's Note: We track enterprise RPA market developments for client advisory work. The Automation Anywhere/C3.ai narrative reflects a broader pattern: every major RPA vendor is seeking AI partnerships or developing AI capabilities internally. For clients considering Automation Anywhere, the partnership with C3.ai does not change the platform evaluation — the core RPA product and its existing AI features (Automation Co-Pilot, IQ Bot) should be evaluated on their own merits. We advise clients to avoid making purchasing decisions based on speculative merger outcomes.