Artificial Intelligence Applications in Accounting and Financial Reporting Systems: An International Perspective

Introduction

Due to the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technology and its widespread implementation in various fields, the trend of human work replaced by robots is growing (Anderson, Rainie, & Luchsinger, 2018). The contribution of artificial intelligence in the field of accounting will inevitably affect the traditional method of development and bring innovation in the field of accounting. Faced with the transformation and development of the accounting field, traditional accounting work is characterized by repetitive and cumbersome characteristics (Almagtome, Shaker, Al-Fatlawi, & Bekheet, 2019). The application of artificial intelligence can solve the points of inefficiency and low added value in the field of accounting, making accountants turn to a more creative business and achieve greater value for the company. In the short term, the application of artificial intelligence to the accounting field will enhance the development, innovation and enhancement of the competitiveness of enterprises, which are of great importance (Luo, Meng, & Cai, 2018). However, many of them are still unable to make proper use of the accounting data generated in the financial statements (Khanom, 2017). Although several developments have been made in accounting research on artificial intelligence, the main question posed by Gray et al. (2014) is that AIS researchers have or will abandon artificial intelligence work. Given what is happening in the field of artificial intelligence and the recent positions taken by the accounting profession, it is somewhat disconcerting at this point in time to think about dumping artificial intelligence research into accounting. AIS researchers will miss a great opportunity to provide guidance in emerging technology that the field is still unfit for discussing and using (Sutton, Holt, & Arnold, 2016). This chapter offers an overview of the impact of artificial intelligence on accounting and reporting procedures globally. It also describes the latest developments in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and their applications in the context of global accounting practices, including financial reporting, auditing and assurance. The debate will cover the primary problems of the AI implementation in the accounting field as well as the present accounting and reporting problems for which current innovations in AI should be used, such as real-time reporting, cloud accounting, etc. Finally, the chapter will discuss some of the potential barriers to the use of artificial intelligence in accounting and reporting systems and discuss the potential consequences for future studies.