Our Role in Building an Ethical and Responsible AI
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In a recent episode of CPA Australia's INTHEBLACK podcast, Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a global leader in AI ethics and governance, delivered key insights that accountants can no longer afford to ignore. As AI tools increasingly find their way into accounting software and business systems, understanding how to engage with AI responsibly is becoming a professional imperative.
Dr. Chowdhury, the CEO of Humane Intelligence and former head of AI ethics at Twitter and Accenture, shared practical lessons from her frontline work—including why AI isn’t as widespread or uncontrollable as some believe, and how responsible AI practices can and must be embedded from the ground up.
Here are five key messages from the podcast for accounting professionals:
AI Is Still Emerging—But You Must Prepare
AI is not yet deeply embedded in every system, but it's growing fast. Accountants should view this as a time to get ahead of the curve, learning how to use AI tools safely and efficiently.
Watch for Hidden Bias in AI Tools
AI systems can reflect the same social biases that exist in data. Dr. Chowdhury highlighted examples of discrimination in healthcare and job applications due to flawed AI. The same could happen in finance—like biased loan approvals or audit risks. Accountants must critically evaluate AI outputs, especially when they inform financial decisions.
Data Integrity Is a Foundation of Trust
Responsible AI depends on clean, accurate data. This is a space where accountants naturally excel. Your role in maintaining ethical data hygiene is vital to keeping AI systems fair and reliable.
Transparency and Auditability Are Non-Negotiable
Dr. Chowdhury emphasised the importance of auditability in AI systems. Accountants should demand clear records and transparent processes from AI vendors and internal tools. If an AI model generates a financial recommendation, there must be a way to explain and verify it.
Ethical Awareness Is a New Frontier for Accounting
Clients will increasingly ask about not only compliance, but also the ethical risks of automation. Accountants who understand responsible AI principles can offer advisory services that protect clients from regulatory and reputational harm.
A Call to Lead
Dr. Chowdhury's message is clear: Responsible AI is a collaborative effort. It needs the involvement of professionals who understand ethics, risk, and compliance. Accountants fit that bill. So while AI may change how the work gets done, it doesn't replace accountants. It amplifies the importance of their judgment, ethics, and analytical thinking. Listen to the full episode to hear more from Dr. Rumman Chowdhury and how responsible AI can become a strategic advantage in your practice.
