{"id":6755,"date":"2019-11-04T19:36:10","date_gmt":"2019-11-05T00:36:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/?p=6755"},"modified":"2026-01-16T05:56:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T10:56:03","slug":"better-ai-for-accountants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/better-ai-for-accountants\/","title":{"rendered":"How accountants can model a better mindset around AI"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccountants<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow accountants can model a better mindset around AI\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tMarc Staut<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re in the accounting profession, chances are you\u2019ve heard that artificial intelligence (AI)<\/a> is going to impact your job in ways both fantastic and scary. Across the profession, firms are recognizing the importance of leveraging technology to increase efficiency and reduce human error. However, for every positive headline about AI in the news, there are usually several negative ones warning of potential job loss. For that reason, firm leaders need to consider their mindset when it comes to AI and how they\u2019re communicating that mindset with their teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disruptive vs. emerging<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the most common blanket terms used for AI, machine learning, robotic process automation, and other technologies is \u201cdisruptive technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The word disruption can have two meanings:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. To throw into turmoil or disorder<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. To break to split apart<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    With those options, it\u2019s not hard to see why the term disruptive has a negative connotation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    I prefer the term \u201cemerging technology.\u201d Emerging technology can be used to describe new technologies, but it can also refer to the continuing development of existing technologies. When you talk to your team about AI, referring to it as an emerging technology takes a more positive view, and rightly so. AI will create more opportunity than just the headlines are giving you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Artificial vs. augmented<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    AI will play a complementary role for many workers. It will make them faster and more productive. That\u2019s why I prefer to think of AI as less about \u201cartificial\u201d intelligence and more about augmented intelligence.<\/mark><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Tech Target defines augmented intelligence<\/a> as \u201can alternative conceptualization of artificial intelligence that focuses on AI\u2019s assistive role, emphasizing the fact that cognitive technology is designed to enhance human intelligence rather than replace it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Augmented intelligence isn\u2019t about removing humans from the decision-making equation. Its focus is on providing humans with more and better information on which to base their decisions. Instead of wasting time entering or sifting through massive amounts of data and struggling to stay fully up-to-speed with ever-changing legislation and accounting standards, your team will have more bandwidth for higher-level, strategic thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Download your free accountant technology guide<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Future vs. now<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Futuristic movies may have instilled audiences with a sense of dread at the thought of AI turning against humans, but chances are, you\u2019re already using AI in your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you use Google Photos, the app is already using its vast database of images to recognize features such as sunsets, mountains, or faces in your photos, making searching for a particular photo a snap. Netflix and Spotify scan not just what you\u2019ve liked in the past, but what other users like you are enjoying to deliver up personalized recommendations. When we talk about AI, it\u2019s essential to talk about how augmented intelligence is impacting us now \u2013 not just in a vague futuristic way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    According to recent research<\/a> from McKinsey, up to 45% of the tasks individuals are paid to perform can be automated using currently available<\/em> technologies. This isn\u2019t just low-skill, low wage roles, but even some of the highest-paid occupations in the economy, including financial managers, physicians and CEOs. The benefits automating these tasks range from increased output to higher quality and improved reliability. McKinsey estimates those benefits are worth three to ten times the cost. Thus augmentation is a competitive differentiator right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Changing the way we think and talk about AI may seem like splitting hairs to some, but embracing AI is about adopting a more positive mindset. We need to look deeper than the headlines and consider how this emerging technology will augment rather than disrupt what we do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When discussing the future of the profession with your team<\/a>, don\u2019t react with fear. Instead, embrace the many opportunities that AI will bring as more and more members of our profession \u2013 and our clients \u2013 adopt it. The real power of AI doesn\u2019t lie in its ability to eliminate jobs, but in its ability to free up time and resources. The accounting profession of the future is going to be far more efficient and strategic as a result of AI. If we can learn to see AI for what it is \u2013 a form of augmented intelligence that is impacting our lives in positive ways now, and will continue to do so in the future, then your teams will more readily adopt the technology. The sooner we begin to leverage AI, the smoother sailing it will be for everybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    3 Technologies transforming the accounting profession<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    A guide to important technologies accounting professionals and small business owners need to know.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet your guide to technologies transforming the accounting profession<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"woman\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    If you\u2019re in the accounting profession, chances are you\u2019ve heard that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to impact your job in ways both fantastic and scary. Across the profession, firms are recognizing the importance of leveraging technology to increase efficiency and reduce human error. However, for every positive headline about AI in the news, there are usually […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":684,"featured_media":169,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[146],"tags":[162,165,169],"business_type":[6],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[102],"persona":[82],"imagine_tag":[34],"coauthors":[345],"class_list":["post-6755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-accountants","tag-accounting-101","tag-bookkeeping","tag-business-strategy","business_type-accountants","industry-professional-services"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ca","author_name":"Marc Staut","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2019\/01\/GettyImages-610436768_super.jpg","imagine_tags":{"34":"Accountants"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Canada English","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/684"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6755"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6755\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/169"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=6755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}