Hi Patrick, I think AI is going to have a major impact on Accountancy and Financial Advisors-(these knowledge based industries will be amongst the first to go) the current mantra goes, "AI won't replace accountants or financial advisors , but those accountants and financial advisors with AI skills will replace those without."

Some believe that practical skills people such as builders, electricians and plumbers will not be replaced, I wouldn't be so sure about that. AI with Robotics will soon take those positions as well.

As someone who currently straddles two different countries for work, I am of the view that AI can help with financial advice. At the very least - and I write from personal experience here - the overall problem-space can be simplified by using AI for detailed queries about pensions, market performance, and even long-term investment strategies.

This is an interesting thread. I have been working in both Accounting and Book keeping most of my adult life, Both as an employee and a freelancer. I notice about a year or so ago as a freelancer my clients were drying up. I then decided to apply to go back in as a an 9-5 employee, but couldn't hardly get an interview, much less a job in accounting. I could not understand why. A colleague in the industry sent me a report earlier this year which stated that AI would disrupt certain industries and replace many white collar workers, accountancy / book keeping was top of the list. So I have decided to retrain and upskill, hence my reason for being on this platform.

With AI being able to to automate spreadsheets and create dashboard, will there be a place for accountants ? I just don't think there will be a need for them, but I think that's the case for many jobs now. I think the real issue is has the education establishment caught up with this ? What do accounts today need to do, should they upskill ?