At the AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments, Acting Chair George Botic gave a measured view of how artificial intelligence is changing the audit landscape, noting both its potential for stronger audits and the risks to core professional values, said Accounting Today.

In his prepared remarks, Botic acknowledged that AI is already improving parts of the audit process. “AI has the potential to erode qualities that go to the core of what it means to be an effective auditor,” he said.

He pointed to enhanced risk assessment, more efficient population testing, and the automation of manual procedures. All these he said "can significantly reduce the risk of missing irregularities or unusual patterns."

Generally, he said that by automating manual processes and enabling auditors to focus on areas that require judgment, auditors may “find their work enriched. Tasks that are tedious have been [or will be] outsourced to machines.”

At the same time, he cautioned against over reliance on the technology.

Research Botic cited, including a recent  MIT study, suggests AI tools can erode critical thinking, professional judgement, and skepticism. These shifts may require firms and educators to rethink how junior auditors build foundational skills. 

He added that "AI may also threaten auditors’ professional skepticism and judgment. There are academic studies that outline the risk of becoming reliant on agentic AI, warning auditors of placing too much trust in technology outputs. These risks will also necessitate the identification of new and different paths for junior auditors to gain those important skills either from the academic community or after they are employed by accounting firms."