The industry is evolving into an AI-literate workforce, and clients who sense that their financial advisors are dragging their feet—rather than doing what it takes to get ahead—will quickly find alternatives.

It’s not too late to start, but the window of opportunity is closing. Make a plan to start using AI today, including how to stay informed with insights from leading voices in the industry.

2. The longer you wait, the harder it will be to get started

Just over one in four accounting professionals are concerned that the gap between AI-positive firms and traditional firms will continue to widen.

Those already leveraging AI solutions have a seven week headstart per employee, powering ahead of their competitors, and as the momentum behind the technology accelerates, it will become exceedingly difficult for resistors to catch up. There are already clear examples of how AI will affect accounting—reshaping roles, firm structures, and client expectations faster than most anticipated.

And the longer you wait to get on board with AI, the longer you wait to reap the benefits.

By embracing this new technology, accounting professionals save approximately 21 hours a month. When firms invest in training, that amount increases by 28%, multiplying their team’s Effective Hourly Rates and boosting productivity.

As your team becomes more advanced in AI, not only will they save more time, but they will also maximize value from the time they do have. That makes AI an appreciating asset. And if you don’t make the most of it, your star performers—and their clients—will eventually find a firm that does.

3. Your clients get more out of your services

By automating and expediting simple tasks, AI makes it easier for your team to prioritize more meaningful tasks, such as building and developing client relationships.

In Karbon's The Future of Client Trust in the Age of AI study, 81% of small business owners said their accountant becomes more valuable when AI handles routine work and the saved time funds strategic conversations.

AI also makes it easier for your team to communicate with your clients according to 77% of use cases.

For starters, it can:

• Draft and proofread emails

• Check and refine tone

• Translate information

• Automate client reminders

• Generate quick email replies

• Find suitable meeting times across timezones

• Give feedback on how to be more accessible

• Live caption conversations

• Generate meeting notes and transcripts

Clients who experience strong rapport with their accounting professionals are not only easier to retain, but are also more likely to promote your services to their peers, attracting new business.

Despite its potential, AI is just a tool. And if you’re not using it to upskill and expand your services, speed up your processes, and produce extraordinary outcomes—if you’re afraid of change and hesitant of the future—then what does that tell your clients?

Show up as a confident, forward-thinking advisor who your clients can depend on, and embrace the AI future—it’s already here.

4. You can help shape the future of AI

It’s not wrong to be skeptical about AI. In fact, it’s incredibly valuable. A range of perspectives is important to any discussion, and as AI continues to develop, it should consider the needs of all users.

But it can’t do that if the number of users are limited.

And if you’re not a user at all, then you won’t get a say.

As AI expert Jason Staats reminds accounting firms, “the further we try to look out ahead, the more we miss the point.” Instead, be curious about AI. The more you understand its capabilities, the more you can visualize its place in your firm and the industry as a whole.

So, listen to experts like Chad Davis, Inbal Rodnay, and Kendra Vant. Read the latest research and resources on AI. Experiment with AI tools and use cases.

And if you have a disappointing experience? If you have important ethical or security concerns? If you notice a gap in AI capabilities? Talk to your peers about it. Give feedback to your software providers. Advocate for the change.

Where there’s demand, there’s supply. And more people engaging in AI means more people shaping the evolution of AI into an accessible and effective tool for all accounting professionals.

In 2017, Slack introduced threaded conversation due to complaints about too much clutter. In 2019, Xero launched new AI capabilities for a more automated user experience. And in 2025, Karbon opened Practice Marketplace in response to accounting firms seeking acquisition. Customer feedback does work, and yours could be the difference between the AI-enabled future you want, and the one you don’t.

But you can’t make a difference by standing on the sidelines. If you want to change the rules, you need to learn to play the game. And if you’re a leader, you should be encouraging all of your team to get on board.

Don’t wait to take the leap

Since ChatGPT was released to the public in 2022, the majority of the accounting industry has observed, assessed, and embraced the rise of AI.

For the remaining few who are still on the fence, the time to take the leap is now.

Download the State of AI in Accounting Report 2026 for industry use cases, so you can get started solving your problems and growing your firm with AI today.