Artificial intelligence (AI) describes a
machine or software that can
demonstrate behaviour
indistinguishable from that of the
human brain. This is not yet possible
but there are many examples of
software that can demonstrate limited
‘intelligence’ (depending on how you
define this). Most of us have used
software that can emulate the decisionmaking
processes of an expert: lots of
software now has expert knowledge
built in and the capacity to ‘learn’ how
to improve its own processes and
performance. The internet is awash with
software agents (bots) that mimic
human behaviour as they make
independent decisions, learn and
interact with each other.
ADOPTION
Accountants increasingly rely on the
expert knowledge built into software in
a range of scenarios. Auditors use smart
software to automate parts of the
auditing process, and there are other
specialist applications to help with
compliance in areas ranging from
financial reporting to international tax.
E-commerce businesses are using AI
chat bots to gain attention, engage
users, and to act as sales people, as well
as FAQs and support agents: the bots
use sophisticated algorithms to
interpret natural language questions
and then deliver answers using online
chat or computer-generated voice –
they even integrate back into
accounting, CRM, and inventory
systems.