Accounting ethics
Accountants around the globe are required to comply with ethical codes of practice. These are almost all based on the IESBA Code, and so share the same five core principles, which are set out in paragraph 110.1 A1 of the IESBA Code. Each of these principles relate to the world of AI: INTEGRITY Integrity requires a professional accountant to be open and honest. So for example, if you are using AI to answer a client’s request or do their work, they should know about this. OBJECTIVITY The Code specifically highlights the need not to place undue reliance on technology. It explicitly requires the professional accountant to consider whether they are being objective in their consideration of the output of AI. There can be a tendency, called “automation bias”, for humans to assume that the output from computers or automated
programmes must be reliable, when there is no, or insufficient evidence to support this. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND DUE CARE The Code requires that you are aware of the standards and relevant legislation related to any work you are doing. Clearly you would also need to be competent in using any AI tool to deliver output to your Open versions of AI might allow anyone to use the data and potentially see data that you have uploaded. Asking a service like ChatGPT for help with a client matter, for example, might involve an inadvertent employer or client. CONFIDENTIALITY breach of client confidentiality. PROFESSIONAL BEHAVIOUR If you used AI without checking the veracity of the results you could discredit the profession. Additionally, the requirement to act in the public interest would also preclude careless or inappropriate use of AI.
AI AND ETHICS | PART ONE: ACCOUNTING ETHICS
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