INTHEBLACK May 2025 - Magazine - Page 41
ARE YOU ALREADY USING AI?
If any of these tools are being used, AI has already entered the workplace.
Virtual assistants: Tools like Siri, Alexa
and Google Assistant are powered by
AI algorithms that continually adapt
and refine their responses based on user
patterns and habits.
Smartphone predictions and
auto-responses: These AI-powered tools
learn from linguistic patterns, speeding
up communication and reducing typos.
Cloud-based accounting software:
Software such as Xero and MYOB
use AI-enabled tools to perform
simple tasks like reading electronic
or hard-copy invoices and receipts
to capture the key data and enter
it into the accounting ledger.
Just Ask Xero (JAX) uses generative
AI to help users complete tasks such
as generating invoices or editing quotes.
Microsoft 365: This suite of products
comes with an AI-powered productivity
tool called Copilot. It provides content
relevant to work tasks such as drafting,
summarising and answering questions
within the Microsoft 365 app. Excel also
uses Microsoft 365 Copilot to speed up
certain spreadsheet tasks such as adding
columns and formulas, formatting tables
and inferring insights about given data.
Email spam filters: These tools use AI
to scan incoming emails to identify
and filter out spam messages.
READ
an article about
five common
finance problems
AI can tackle
UPSKILL
and balances exist? How safe and secure
is your data? What’s going to go from your
own search inquiries into a data set that
can present issues for intellectual property
and commercial sensitivity, trade secrets
and reliability?”
Marks suggests starting with trusted vendors.
“Once you’re comfortable that a vendor
is trustworthy because of their data handling
practices, then that’s a good place to start
with the additional tools,” she says. “Ask
questions like, ‘How does the tool collect,
use and disclose the information that you’re
putting in?’ The other thing is that [AI]
is currently quite immature, so how do
you know that you can rely on what you’re
finding and using?”
FitzGerald says skills like professional
skepticism are vital when using AI tools
safely. In other words, don’t assume it
knows better.
“The opportunity is not to fight against
the machine, but to make the machine work
for you.” ■
with CPA Australia’s
AI Ethics for Modern
Professionals online
course
LISTEN
to a podcast
episode on how
to implement AI
into your business
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au 41
