A survey 2,200 of professionals in legal, tax, trade, accounting, risk fraud and compliance around the world has found that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI (GenAI) remain the dominant issue that respondents see propelling change in their profession.
But according to Thomson Reuters’s Future of Professionals Report, views about AI and its usage are evolving, with an ebbing of the initial fears especially around job losses and the potential for malicious use. This year’s survey finds there is more concern than last year that there need to be humans in the loop to keep AI work ethical and on track. And rather than expecting job losses, respondents are seeing more AI-specialist and tech-related jobs being created.
Nearly 80% of respondents believe AI to be a force for good in their profession.
Increased investment
The research finds that entities are investing more in AI than last year, and that 94% of respondents say AI is affecting strategy.
Human intervention
Half of respondents say that AI can be a good starting point for their work but that they still need to do the majority of the work themselves. Another 28% say that AI provides a ‘strong starting’ point that they will ‘just need to edit’.
Freed up
Respondents identify a variety of benefits from new tech, with 59% seeing opportunities to deliver greater quality and value through AI’s ability to handle large volumes of data more effectively. AI-powered tech tools could also free up the average professional for as much as four hours per week in the next year. The majority expect that extra free time to be used to improve work-life balance and wellbeing.
Watch and learn
Find out more about the impact of AI on the profession at ACCA’s annual conference ‘Accounting for the Future’ on 24–26 November. Day one focuses on technological developments in particular. Register to watch live on or demand.
