Intuit QuickBooks reveal how AI will change the accounting industry

With the ability to automate repetitive tasks and enhance data analysis capabilities, artificial intelligence (AI) is already being adopted by accountants to perform accurate financial planning for their clients. Let’s examine how AI in accounting will improve the industry and its future impact on financial processes.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence tries to simulate human intelligence with machines, performing tasks requiring human input like problem-solving and decision-making. AI systems can analyse large data sets, recognise patterns, and make informed predictions to enhance efficiency and accuracy in various fields, including accounting.

Language models like GPT which powers ChatGPT are built on deep learning techniques and are trained on large amounts of data to help the model understand and generate human-like text. These models can perform traditionally time-consuming tasks for accountants, freeing them up to focus on their work's strategic and complex aspects. For instance, a GPT model can help automate the generation of reports, use language queries to interact with financial data and extract information relevant from invoices.

Intuit is at the forefront of AI in the accounting industry with over 730 million AI-driven customer interactions per year, leading to 58 billion machine learning predictions per day. In fact, Intuit built its own Generative AI Operating System (GenOS) platform. GenOS leverages custom-trained financial large language models specialising in tax, accounting, cash flow and more.

What are the benefits of AI in accounting?

Using AI to help with accounting offers an array of advantages that are set to change the execution and management of financial procedures for the better.

Here are some benefits of AI in the accounting industry and how they can help transform it over time.

Automation of routine tasks

Traditionally, accountants have spent considerable time on repetitive tasks such as data entry, transaction categorisation, and invoice processing. These tasks are essential but can be time-consuming and prone to errors. These processes don’t necessarily require accountants' unique skills and expertise. This is where AI can step in to help ease the burden.

What might have taken hours for a human accountant can now be completed in a fraction of the time, freeing up professionals to focus on more value-added tasks.

Enhanced data analysis

By harnessing the power of AI-driven tools, accountants can now process large amounts of data at unprecedented speeds. This empowers them to analyse datasets and extract insights efficiently.

One of the strengths of AI algorithms lies in their ability to identify patterns and trends within data. This proficiency empowers accountants to unearth insights from financial datasets that may have remained hidden through conventional analysis.

Improved fraud detection

AI has the potential to improve how we identify, prevent, and address fraudulent activities within financial processes.

AI algorithms are incredibly effective in recognising patterns and outliers across datasets. This plays a role in detecting any financial transactions or behaviours that might indicate fraud is occurring.

Thanks to AI-enabled fraud detection systems, financial transactions can now be monitored quickly. This allows for the identification of any fraudulent activities as they happen.

By identifying changes in regular transaction behaviours, AI can promptly notify accountants about potential fraud at an early stage. This proactive approach helps prevent losses from escalating.

Personalised financial advice

Accountants and financial professionals can leverage AI-driven algorithms and data analysis to provide recommendations and insights catering to individuals' and businesses' financial circumstances and goals.

By analysing volumes of data, including income, expenses, investments and market trends, AI enables a data-driven approach to offer customised advice. This technology considers an individual's or business's financial goals, risk tolerance levels and preferences to provide advice that aligns with their objectives.

AI can evaluate risk profiles and market trends to suggest investment strategies that offer returns while considering an individual's appetite for risk.

What is the future AI impact on accounting?

AI is expected to bring about changes to the accounting field. It could transform how accounting processes are carried out, how financial data is analysed, and how accountants provide value to their clients and organisations.

So, what does the future hold for AI in the accounting industry?

AI systems will be capable of handling tasks that require cognitive abilities. For instance, natural language processing (NLP) will enable accountants to effectively use AI systems to understand documents, contracts and regulatory texts. This advancement in NLP will allow accountants to interact with AI systems using language. It will make it easier for them to access information, generate reports and ask queries.

As a result of these advancements, the role of accountants will evolve. They will focus more on decision-making, interpreting insights generated by AI systems and providing expert oversight to ensure data accuracy and ethical considerations are upheld.

QuickBooks Online is an Intuit software that uses AI to help automate repetitive tasks for accountants and advisors. These tasks can include data entry, invoice processing and even generating financial reporting.

Unlock the power of AI with Intuit's AI accounting software

As AI revolutionises industries, Intuit is leading the way by integrating cutting-edge AI technology into its accounting software. Now is the time to leverage the potential of AI for your accounting requirements.

Imagine a world where tasks like entering data, categorising transactions and processing invoices are automated, giving you time to focus on decision-making. Intuit's AI-powered solutions aim to streamline these tasks, reduce errors and enhance efficiency.

That's not all. With AI, your ability to analyse data will reach new heights. AI algorithms can uncover hidden patterns, identify trends and provide insights that could help your planning. Thanks to the power of AI-generated insights, making informed decisions will be easier than before.

Visit the QuickBooks team at the Accounting Business Expo on Nov 22 & 23 in Sydney to find out how you can unlock the power of AI technology for your accounting processes. Book a demo at the expo and receive a $50 gift voucher. Register here