Surgent's The AI-augmented Professional: Practical Tools, Real Risks, and Immediate Use Cases

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a future concept; it is a current necessity. This session provides a practical roadmap for practitioners to leverage AI safely and effectively. We move from a survey of available tools (from free apps to specialized software) to a deep dive into the ethical guardrails required to protect client data and maintain professional standards. Participants will leave with a playbook of real-world use cases that can be implemented immediately.

Accounting and finance professionals who wish to learn the latest on AI and its practical, real-world applications

• Gain a clear understanding of which tools fit your practice size and budget, whether you are a sole practitioner or part of a large firm
• Understand how to build a firm-wide AI policy that balances innovation with risk management
• Incorporate these low-cost, high-impact tools into your daily practice

• Explore from the history of automation to the current landscape of large language models (LLMs) and generative tools to demystify the technology
• Free, accessible apps to enterprise-grade solutions and specialized accounting software tailored for tax, audit, and advisory workflows
• Ethical obligations and professional standards that govern AI use, including data privacy, client confidentiality, and the management of "hallucinations" or inaccuracies
• Through specific use cases and prompting demonstrations, understand how to use AI to draft complex communications, summarize research, optimize Excel workflows, and enhance client advisory services

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