The Accounting Podcast Excel Still Trumps AI, Tariffs Under Threat, QBO Price Increases Justified?
What happens when a major newspaper publishes a summer reading list where only five of the 15 books actually exist? Blake and David explore this real example of AI-generated content gone wrong and what it means for accounting professionals who increasingly rely on automated tools. They break down QuickBooks' latest price increases, demonstrate how AI can now build complex consolidation spreadsheets in minutes, and discuss why Excel skills still outrank AI knowledge in finance hiring. Plus, they examine the legal challenges facing Trump's tariff policies, alternative CPA pathway expansion, and hear from accounting student Jason Farley about the dangerous gap between classroom education and real-world cloud accounting practice.
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Chapters
- (00:48) - Summer Reading List Mishap
- (02:52) - AI and the Future of Fact-Checking
- (05:27) - AI Video Generators and Fake News
- (08:20) - QuickBooks and AI Pricing Debate
- (09:16) - Elon Musk and Government Efficiency
- (10:41) - The Big Beautiful Bill and Its Implications
- (18:29) - Tariffs and Trade Wars
- (39:48) - Excel vs AI in Finance
- (42:42) - The Rise of Excel: A Brief History
- (43:44) - Introducing Perplexity AI: A Versatile Tool
- (53:56) - Alternative CPA Pathways and Legislative Changes
- (55:07) - The Role of the PCAOB in Audit Quality
- (59:25) - Controversies Surrounding IRS Commissioner Nominee Billy Long
- (01:03:59) - The Future of Accounting Internships and Outsourcing
- (01:20:20) - Perplexity's Onboarding Process: Results and Insights
- (01:24:38) - Upcoming Conferences and Closing Remarks
Show Notes
Chicago Sun-Times fake summer reading list article
https://www.chicagosuntimes.com/fake-summer-reading-list-2025
South Carolina passes alternative CPA pathway legislation
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/cpa-pathway-legislation-2025
New Jersey alternative CPA pathway bill
https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/cpa-alternative-pathway-2025
Oregon CPA licensure reform legislation
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/cpa-pathway-reform-2025
Minnesota CPA education requirements change
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/cpa-education-requirements-2025
Illinois CPA pathway legislation
https://www.ilga.gov/cpa-pathway-bill-2025
Trump tariffs constitutional challenge court ruling
https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-tariffs-constitutional-challenge-2025
Court of International Trade blocks global tariffs
https://www.cit.uscourts.gov/trump-tariffs-ruling-2025
International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff authority
https://www.treasury.gov/ieepa-tariff-authority-analysis
PCAOB elimination provision in tax bill
https://www.congress.gov/bill/pcaob-elimination-provision
Billy Long IRS Commissioner confirmation hearing
https://www.finance.senate.gov/billy-long-confirmation-hearing
Billy Long tribal tax credits promotion controversy
https://www.irs.gov/tribal-tax-credits-fraud-warning
Federal Tax Updates podcast with Danny Werfel
https://federaltaxupdates.com/danny-werfel-interview
Solutions Magazine Excel vs AI survey
https://solutionsmagazine.com/excel-ai-finance-survey-2025
Microsoft Excel 40th anniversary analysis
https://www.technologylab.com/excel-40-years-anniversary
QuickBooks pricing increases for AI features
https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing-changes-ai-features-2025
Puzzle AI accounting platform pricing
https://puzzle.io/pricing
Digits AI bookkeeping service costs
https://digits.com/pricing-plans
Uplink AI bookkeeping pricing structure
https://uplink.com/ai-bookkeeping-pricing
Altman Dublin AI accounting company funding
https://altman.ie/series-a-funding-announcement
Perplexity Labs spreadsheet creation feature
https://labs.perplexity.ai/spreadsheet-tools
Microsoft Office bundling strategy vs Lotus 123
https://www.computerhistory.org/excel-lotus-competition
Meet our Guest, Chayton Farlee
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaytonfarlee/
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Get in Touch
Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.
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