AI Spreadsheets, IRS Mass Resignations, Recession Signs

Could AI be doing a day's work in just minutes for accountants? In this episode, Blake and David explore how accounting technology is revolutionizing traditional workflows, from Xero's new AI protocol that connects chatbots directly to accounting data, to Google's game-changing "I" function in Sheets that lets you analyze data with natural language. You'll discover why deep research tools might replace entire teams of analysts and why revealing your AI usage might actually hurt your professional reputation. Plus, hear about unusual recession indicators (men's underwear sales are down!), what Americans consider financial success versus reality, and why accountants everywhere are buzzing about Baker Tilly's merger with Moss Adams. Whether you're curious about automating journal entries or simply wondering if you should disclose your AI wizardry, this episode delivers practical insights for the modern finance professional. Sponsors Payhawk - http://accountingpodcast.promo/payhawk Relay - http://accountingpodcast.promo/relay Cloud Accountant Staffing - http://accountingpodcast.promo/cas RoboDebit - http://accountingpodcast.promo/robodebit Chapters (00:00) - Introduction and Podcast Overview (00:39) - App News and Intuit Updates (07:53) - Intuit's AI and Bitcoin Controversy (11:10) - Xero Innovations (20:16) - Paychex Acquires Paycor (21:11) - Flowcast's AI Agents (25:17) - Pipe Acquires Glean AI (26:28) - Google Sheets AI Formula (34:30) - Google Agent Space (42:29) - AI's Impact on High-Level Jobs (43:12) - Testing AI with Investment Analysis (44:25) - Mother Road Brewery Investment Evaluation (49:31) - Canva's New Sheets Feature (54:31) - Google's Monopoly and Data Breach News (58:22) - AI Disclosure in the Workplace (01:05:51) - Mega Merger of Accounting Firms (01:11:26) - Signs of a Recession (01:17:45) - Upcoming Events and CPE Opportunities   Show Notes Accelerating Money Innovation with Deserve Technology Platform and Talent https://www.intuit.com/blog/news-social/accelerating-money-innovation-with-deserve-technology-platform-and-talent/   WARNING: Quickbooks Checking https://quickbooks.intuit.com/learn-support/en-us/banking/warning-quickbooks-checking/00/1516063   Green Dot considers sale as CEO exits https://www.paymentsdive.com/news/green-dot-citi-strategic-review-sale-ceo-exit-gresham/742096/   Intuit Enterprise Suite Spring update features more efficient multi-entity accounting, enhanced reporting, and more https://quickbooks.intuit.com/r/enterprise/intuit-enterprise-suite-spring-2025-release-notes/   Strive targets Intuit for Bitcoin buys after orange-pilling GameStop https://cointelegraph.com/news/strive-targets-intuit-bitcoin-buys-after-gamestop   Xero Rolls Out New "Reconcile Period" Feature https://insightfulaccountant.com/accounting-tech/general-ledger/xero-rolls-out-new-reconcile-period-feature/   Xero introduces new Model Context Protocol server for smarter accounting https://devblog.xero.com/xero-introduces-new-model-context-protocol-server-for-smarter-accounting-4d195ccaeda5   Paychex Acquires Paycor in $4.1 Billion Deal https://www.pymnts.com/acquisitions/2025/paychex-acquires-paycor-in-4-1-billion-deal/   Introducing FloQast AI Agents: Revolutionizing Accounting Automation https://www.floqast.com/blog/introducing-floqast-ai-agents-revolutionizing-accounting-automation   Pipe Acquires Glean.ai to Add Spend Management to Suite of Embedded Financial Solutions https://pipe.com/resources/press-releases/pipe-acquires-glean-ai-to-add-spend-management-to-suite-of-embedded-financial-solutions ​ Google Sheets Introduces AI-Powered =AI() Formula for Enhanced Productivity​ https://yourstory.com/2025/04/google-sheets-ai-formula-gemini   Scale enterprise search and agent adoption with Google Agentspace https://cloud.google.com/blog/products/ai-machine-learning/google-agentspace-enables-the-agent-driven-enterprise   Sarah Friar’s LinkedIn Post …  https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sarah-friar_what-an-ai-powered-finance-function-of-the-activity-7259765674506399744-IKQD   OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar: We are building a lot of IP down into the data center layer https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/03/20/openai-cfo-sarah-friar-we-are-building-a-lot-of-ip-down-into-the-data-center-layer.html   Introducing Visual Suite 2.0: Productivity, meet creativity https://www.canva.com/newsroom/news/canva-create-2025/   Department of Justice Prevails in Landmark Antitrust Case Against Google https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-prevails-landmark-antitrust-case-against-google   Dark Web Digest – Lessons Learned from the Wolters Kluwer Data Breach https://www.purevpn.com/blog/dark-web-digest-issue-4-wolters-kluwer/   New HEC Paris research suggests that shadow adoption of ChatGPT could benefit employees but not the firms https://www.hec.edu/en/news-room/new-hec-p...