THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ON THE ACCOUNTING PROFESSION AND FUTURE AUDITING

Abstract

This study investigates at how AI has changed the nature of accounting and financial auditing work recently and how it could change in the future. The main argument is that artificial intelligence (AI) has developed into a knowledgeable collaborator that is used in many facets of an accountant's work, including data input, analysis, and risk and mistake prediction. In order to guarantee a varied sample, this study used a stratified random sample to disseminate an electronic questionnaire to 180 accountants and auditors from Jordanian banks and businesses. The usage of AI, its effects on quality, acceptability, and barriers are covered in four areas of the questionnaire. To enhance the qualitative component, 12 experts participated in semi-structured interviews. The results of the study showed that combining AI with ERP and Blockchain systems may reduce the amount of time accountants spend on tedious tasks, increase the transparency and reliability of financial reporting, and identify fraud more quickly. Advanced statistics such as multiple regression analysis and path analysis show that AI significantly affects audit efficiency (β = 0.78) and financial report accuracy (R² = 0.65). The results indicate that the future will be dominated by accountants who are skilled with AI rather than those who are scared of it. The report suggests that professional and Jordanian colleges create AI accounting courses and begin using hybrid models that blend machine and human intelligence.