A Top Technology Initiative Article – August 2025.
Earlier in the year, I covered the importance of agentic AI. My evolving theory is that we will utilize a large language model (LLM) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for increased productivity. These platforms, such as ChatGPT, which currently has a 61% market share (14% in India), recently released ChatGPT-5 on August 7. The initial results weren’t favorable, but OpenAI is working to resolve the various issues with the new model. Of course, OpenAI wants to achieve Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), also known as human-level intelligence AI, so they don’t have to honor their agreement with Microsoft.
Speaking of Microsoft, Copilot 365 has become the second leading LLM, with a 14% market share. Copilot 365 remains the safest AI to use by CPA firms. While it is not as capable as ChatGPT, notable improvements have been made in the past six months. The integration into the Microsoft 365 platform is notable and useful. There are still adjustments being made with modules like Outlook email, which has been horribly buggy for most of the last quarter.
Rounding out the top five AI platforms are Gemini at 13%, Perplexity AI at 6.2%, which recently made a showy offer to acquire the Chrome browser, and Claude at 3.2% (of which 80% of their users are business users). While I recommend that most of you focus on a single LLM, I use all five of these, and more, almost daily for some purpose. I have found that, as of today, Claude provides the most helpful and detailed answers, and that Perplexity yields the best AI search results.
However, as recently as yesterday, I used Copilot 365 to prepare a summary for a meeting with others, which quickly provided a list of our prior meetings, to-do items that had been agreed to, and actionable next steps. That effort took less than 90 seconds. The others in the meeting knew I had used AI, but they couldn’t figure out how.
Agents Everywhere!
Let’s move on to the point of this article, Agentic AI. I have been writing and using a few agents myself, which are radically improving my day-to-day work. It is becoming increasingly clear that my earlier suggestion that firms will utilize AI in three ways is likely to be accurate. Those three? 1) LLMs for productivity, 2) AI built into products already in use. Your regular upgrades will provide AI capabilities on those platforms. Examples include tools you already license, such as Thomson Reuters Checkpoint Edge with CoCounsel or Wolters Kluwer CCH AnswerConnect. Competitors will step up and sell platforms built on AI. Examples here include Digits AI Accounting, Puzzle.io, Blue J, or TaxGPT. 3) Agents built and sold separately or as add-ons to platforms you use. Examples include the recently announced Alexion and the four agents in QuickBooks Online, as well as the four additional agents in Intuit Enterprise.
Brian Tankersley, my fellow podcaster of the Accounting Technology Lab, and I recently discussed the press announcements from accounting providers of agents, covered below. Recurring themes of all these announcements include: 1) myriad new capabilities, 2) AI enablement everywhere, 3) enhanced productivity in business models, 4) trying to satisfy higher client expectations than ever before, 5) good integration of the AI into business processes, and 6) the need for AI to satisfy market demands from users and investors.
These recurring themes have led everyone, from sole practitioners to managing and leading partners of firms of all sizes, partner groups, and firm ownership in general, to review options for software replacements, renewals, or upgrades. Of course, the right approach is to reaffirm your business strategy and tactics, aligning them with your technology strategy and tactics. This alignment enables you to deliver the services your clients want that your team members can handle. The overall market shift to true advisory services may have begun and been enabled by reducing day-to-day labor to create services and products with AI
What Else Was Announced?
Firms are discovering the value of using an integrated tech stack, and vendors are rushing to supply this. A tech stack has integration between applications, both horizontally (across the firm) and vertically (within a practice area, such as tax, Client Accounting Services (CAS), Audit, Wealth Management, etc.). The best tech stacks work for everyone in the firm, but frequently, the revenue production of a practice, such as tax, drives or dictates decisions without sufficient feedback from other practice areas. Large firms are investing in AI to remain competitive. Consider this table of AI Spending by Megafirms:
| Firm | AI Spend (USD) | Date | Link to Source |
| BDO | $1 billion | 5/27/25 | BDO Launches $1 Billion AI Strategy |
| Deloitte | $2 billion | 6/4/24 – The Finance Story | Big 4 firms scramble to win the consulting race. Investing over $4B in AI |
| EY | $10 billion over 3 years (2021-2023) | “ | “ |
| KPMG | $1 billion over 4 years (2023-2027) | “ | “ |
| PwC (US) | $1 billion over 3 years (from 2023) | “ | “ |
| RSM (US) | $1 billion over 3 years | 6/9/25 | RSM US to Make $1 Billion Investment to Expand AI Strategy |
| Aprio | $300 million over 5 years | 7/22/25 | Aprio Buys TimeCredit as part of $300M AI push |
Unfortunately, in small and medium-sized firms, there is no opportunity to make this type of expenditure. However, this is where product vendors can help. Firm needs vary widely. Developers of platforms try to solve for the needs as they see them. I know this list is not comprehensive, and I apologize to all companies where I missed their announcements of new features. I try to interpret and guide you on market conditions, rather than reporting on every last news item. Consider the following product changes:
- DMS SmartVault to Launch SmartRequestAI to Automate Document Collection and Client Intake Process for Tax Professionals, to release later this year – link
- Sales Tax Tool Sovos Launches ‘Sovi’ Suite of Embedded AI Capabilities – link
- Intuit Adds AI Agents, Other Enhancements to Intuit Enterprise Suite – link
- DataSnipper Adds AI Agents To Ask Audit Support Questions – link
- Bloomberg Tax & Accounting Adds Enhanced AI Assistant Research Features – link
- Wolters Kluwer Enhances CCH AnswerConnect With New AI Capabilities – link
- Expense Management Tool Ramp Introduces AI Agents Suited for Controllers – link
- Ledgre Launches AI Tax Assistant for Rental Property Owners – link
- Tipalti Acquires AI-native Treasury Automation Statement to Expand Its Treasury Offerings – link
- Outsourcer Taxfyle Launches AI Tool TXF Intelligence – link
- Integra Global Solutions Rolls Out AI Receptionist Solution – link
- Proposal Solution Ignition Unveils Plans for AI-Powered Pricing Feature – link
- Tax Planning Tool Instead Launches AI-Driven Tax Reports – link
- Paycom Enhances AI-Powered Ask Here Tool – link
- Karbon Launches End-to-End Tax Workflows, AI Innovations, and Practice Intelligence to Accelerate Firm Growth – link
As you can see from the list above, numerous AI features are being introduced in products, and most of these involve an embedded AI Agent.
So, What Should You Do?
As I said in last month’s column, revisit your strategy and tactics. Now is not the time to look for SALY (Same as Last Year). Consider innovations that will benefit your team, your clients, and your partners. Structure your service offerings as a repeatable service that can be leveraged by technology. Take the time to conduct thorough due diligence when carefully choosing a tech stack. Invest in proper implementation, including data migration, training, and testing. Optimize the tech stack once it is in place. Use a consistent business development method to put the service in front of every viable prospect in your client base and outside of your firm if you are growth-oriented. And remember, you are responsible for making decisions that enable you to work smarter, not harder.
Consider that agents can give you a secret superpower. In AI, this power is frequently referred to as SuperHuman, which means AI-powered enablement that aims to save users time by automating tasks and improving responsiveness. Many of you have admin and support staff to enable you to do more. What if you can do more with fewer people? Or what if you could do much more with the same people using far less effort? You may have secret agent James Bond on your side, but certainly you will have Q.
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