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Mardi 22 AVRIL 2025
Generative Artificial Intelligence – “GenAI” - Risks and challenges for the audit profession
Generative Artificial Intelligence – “GenAI” - is an emerging technology that, with its advanced capabilities, can significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of audit work by automating routine tasks and reducing repetitive and simple tasks, allowing auditors to focus on more complex and strategic aspects of the work. Its ability to analyse large volumes of data with high precision reduces the risk of human error and provides valuable insights that may otherwise be missed. Its scalability makes it an excellent support for auditing large organizations or complex systems. Nonetheless, although it's not accurate to say that GenAI tools are inherently dangerous for auditors, there are potential risks and challenges associated with its use, as with any technology, that must be taken into consideration:• Data Quality and Accuracy: AI systems need data to be trained and its functionality will be only as good as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased, incomplete, or inaccurate, the AI's outputs could be misleading, present errors, inaccuracies or inconsistencies, leading potentially to incorrect audit conclusions.• Data Privacy, Confidentiality and Intellectual Property: Artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems often require access to large amounts of data for training the algorithm or for use as input. Data may include confidential and sensitive information which, if not adequately protected, could lead to privacy, data protection, confidentiality and intellectual property (“IP”) breaches or data misuse.• Data location: AI tools mainly store processed data on cloud servers with associated outsourcing, security, data protection and confidentiality risks data protection and privacy regulations concerns.• Lack of Transparency: AI systems, particularly those using deep learning technology, can be "black boxes", making it difficult to understand how they are making decisions and creating similar issues in case of over-reliance thereon.• Suitability of Audit Trail and retention scheme: AI models must provide clear and traceable audit trail as well as allow implementation of compliant retention scheme to allow compliance with audit standards.• Data Governance: Over-reliance on AI could potentially lead to a lack of human oversight in breach of audit standards. AI should be used as a tool to assist auditors, not replace them considering audit principles of scepticism and independent judgement.• Legal and Regulatory Compliance: The use of AI in auditing must comply with existing regulations and professional and ethical standards, which may not have been fully adapted to the new technology due to its rapidly evolving nature and the often slower pace of legal and regulatory developments.• Ethical Considerations: There are ongoing debates about the ethical implications of AI, including issues of transparency, accountability, and fairness and how it can impact human rights and values.• Skills Gap: There may be a lack of necessary skills and understanding to effectively implement and use AI tools within audit professionals which can cause its misuse.Auditors and audit firms must carefully determine suitable GenAI risk mitigation measures considering their intended use of the GenAI tools. These risk mitigation measures must especially help identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential risks. Their implementation must in any case allow auditors and audit firms to comply with all applicable audit principles and standards.One can reasonably expect the following key points to be addressed:• Data Management: to implement robust data management practices to protect confidentiality and ensure data privacy and security in compliance with audit standards• Accountability and Transparency: to select and use Gen AI tools that would not lead to deviate from audit standards and be able to document this by performing suitable due diligence.• Human Oversight: to maintain a level of human oversight and proper professional skepticism in the auditing process by interpreting and validating any AI outputs supporting an audit.• Quality Data: Ensure the AI is trained on high-quality, unbiased, complete and relevant data. Its quality is crucial for the AI system to provide high performance, accuracy and reliable results. Regularly review and update the AI models to maintain their accuracy and relevance. Choose an AI system that is known for using high-quality data and has strong data governance practices.• Legal and compliance: legal and regulatory framework is evolving fast and therefore need to stay updated with the latest laws, regulations and standards related to the use of AI in auditing.• Ethical Considerations: to perform appropriate internal assessment depending on intended use.• Skills Development: initial and ongoing training to use and understand outputs of GenAI tools.GenAI clearly presents a transformative opportunity for auditors and audit firms, associated to the potential risks. These risks must be assessed as well as mitigated, especially through a combination of due diligence, robust data protection protocols, regular system maintenance, comprehensive user training, and clear usage guidelines tailored to each company and intended use at least. By proactively addressing these risks, audit firms can harness the full potential of GenAI, enhancing the efficiency, accuracy, and insightfulness of audit work, while ensuring the system is used responsibly and securely and without lowering audit standards and the need to apply proper professional skepticism.Bibliography:- Committee of European Auditing Oversight Bodies (CEAOB). October 2024. Challenges and applications of advanced technologies in audit firms.- International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR). November 2023. Use of technology in audits – observations, risks and further evolution.
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Jeudi 17 AVRIL 2025
IRE - Assemblée générale 2025 dans 2 mois !/ General Assembly 2025 in 2 months! - SAVE THE DATE!
SAVE THE DATELa prochaine assemblée générale de l'IRE aura lieu le mardi 17 juin 2025 à 16h à la chambre de commerce.La convocation, l'agenda ainsi que le matériel de l'assemblée générale vous seront communiqués au moment opportun.Le secrétariat de l'IRE Free GB translation from the French originalThe next IRE General Assembly will take place on Tuesday 17 June 2025 at 4 pm at the Chambre de Commerce.The IRE General Assembly convocation, agenda and material will be sent to you in due course.The IRE secretariat
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