Conflict and Controversy: Unraveling Influential Dynamics

Blake and David return from Sage Future 2025 with insights into how AI is reshaping accounting—from eliminating the financial close to real-world use cases. They also cover Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s public breakup, the latest in Deel’s corporate spying allegations, Deloitte’s unapologetically intense work-life balance ad, and a billion-dollar “AI” startup that turned out to be powered by humans.

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• (00:00) - Welcome to The Accounting Podcast
• (01:02) - AI in Accounting: Real-World Examples
• (05:08) - Sage Intacct Roadmap and AI Innovations
• (12:02) - AI's Impact on Accounting Jobs
• (18:33) - AI in Auditing: Tools and Trends
• (26:54) - Internal Audit and AI Adoption
• (32:36) - Elon Musk and Donald Trump Fallout
• (35:43) - Impact of Tariffs and Political Alliances
• (37:03) - Rippling vs. Deel: Allegations and Legal Battles
• (40:45) - Deloitte's Work-Life Balance Ad Controversy
• (43:10) - Accounting Profession's Retention and Salary Issues
• (46:43) - CPA Title Removal Debate
• (49:23) - 150-Hour Rule and Master's Degree Debate
• (52:56) - Trump-Musk Fallout and Its Implications
• (01:01:07) - Alliant Group and IRS Commissioner Controversy
• (01:05:14) - AI Startup Fraud Exposed
• (01:07:08) - Conclusion and Announcements

Show Notes

Real-life ways accountants are using AI
https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/issues/2025/jun/real-life-ways-accountants-are-using-ai/

Fieldguide Introduces Industry-Leading Agentic AI for Financial Audit to Improve Quality and Efficiency
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/04/3093606/0/en/Fieldguide-Introduces-Industry-Leading-Agentic-AI-for-Financial-Audit-to-Improve-Quality-and-Efficiency.html

Fieldguide launches AI agent to automate audit testing
https://www.accountingtoday.com/news/fieldguide-launches-ai-agent-to-automate-audit-testing

How KPMG is using AI to revamp their audit practice
https://www.cfo.com/news/how-kpmg-thomas-mackenzie-is-using-clara-ai-to-revamp-their-audit-practice-/748316/

KPMG Advances AI Integration in KPMG Clara Smart Audit Platform
https://kpmg.com/us/en/media/news/kpmg-clara-smart-audit-platform.html

Ex-PwC Partner Says AI Is Coming For Big 4 Jobs in a Big Way
https://www.goingconcern.com/ex-pwc-partner-says-ai-is-coming-for-big-4-jobs-in-a-big-way/

PwC's 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer
https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2025/ai-linked-to-a-fourfold-increase-in-productivity-growth.html

From bros to foes: how the unlikely Trump-Musk relationship imploded
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/bros-foes-how-unlikely-trump-musk-relationship-imploded-2025-06-06/

Deloitte's Latest Ad Promises Clients Their People Have No Life Whatsoever and Are Always Eager to Serve https://www.goingconcern.com/deloittes-latest-ad-promises-clients-their-people-have-no-life-whatsoever-and-are-always-eager-to-serve/

Microsoft backed this $1.5 billion AI startup that was just discovered to be 700 engineers pretending to be AI https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft/builder-ai-collapse-microsoft-backed-fake-ai-services

Builder.ai faked AI with 700 engineers, now faces bankruptcy and probe
https://www.business-standard.com/companies/news/builderai-faked-ai-700-indian-engineers-files-bankruptcy-microsoft-125060401006_1.html

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