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. Sponsors Payhawk - http://accountingpodcast.promo/payhawk Keeper - http://accountingpodcast.promo/keeper REFRAME 2025 - http://accountingpodcast.promo/reframe2025 TeamUp - http://accountingpodcast.promo/teamup 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/ Need CPE? Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com 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. Sponsorships Are you interested in sponsoring The Accounting Podcast? For details, read the prospectus. Need Accounting Conference Info?  Check out our new website -