Software provider Canopy has integrated ChatGPT into its accounting practice management software, which allows it to write emails, Accounting Today and CPA Practice Advisor reported. The company will release the new function in a beta mode to select customers on April 26, and is expected to make it available to Canopy’s full customer base in May. 

To use this feature, a user can click an icon in the text toolbar, then enter the subject, the recipient, the sender, and some keywords, such as "work out of scope," "more time required" or "higher price." The AI assistant then composes the email, after which the user can highlight specific passages and make the program rephrase them, make them more formal, make them more friendly, or simply correct any mistakes. The software can also rephrase messages or correct spelling and grammar. These rephrasing options are also available for emails that users initiate themselves.

“AI is shaping our future and it will continue to transform the accounting profession. The ability of AI to identify needs and simplify tasks is amazing,” Canopy CEO Davis Bell said in a press release. “Adding AI inside of Canopy to increase email efficiency is a simple step with a lot of potential for making accounting firms more productive.”   

“Advancements in AI technology make it easier than ever to automate simple tasks, like writing an email, giving back time to accountants to focus on specialized work,” Canopy Chief Product Officer Shane Westra said in the release. “Our goal has always been to give accountants the firm they’ve always wanted, and through this email integration with ChatGPT, and forthcoming AI enhancements across the Canopy platform, we are enabling that.”

The company provided a demonstration video.