Only 2% Trust AI for Payroll

Monday, November 3, 2025

Hey, Accounting Pros!

Welcome back to AI Accounting Daily, your #1 source for AI news in accounting.

Today, we're taking a look at how AI in payroll faces a confidence gap despite its potential to streamline compliance, ServiceNow's CFO revealing AI's role in boosting enterprise efficiency, and the intriguing surge in OpenAI's revenue projections with ambitions to hit $100 billion by 2027, plus the impact of Google and Amazon's investments in Anthropic reshaping the tech landscape. Dive in to explore these dynamic shifts and their implications!

Latest in Accounting AI

Payroll AI Adoption Faces Confidence Gap

Payroll is evolving beyond its back-office roots. AI could streamline compliance and error reduction, yet only 2% of Australian firms have fully embraced it, largely due to a confidence gap among payroll teams. As legislative complexities rise, will AI adoption finally catch up?

Read full story

ServiceNow CFO Says AI Boosts Enterprise Efficiency

ServiceNow's CFO, Gina Mastantuono, highlights AI's tangible impact on enterprise efficiency and automation gains. As workflows accelerate, firms see revenue growth and increased shareholder value. Yet, the real intrigue lies in how AI reshapes government operations next.

Read full story

India's Tech Pay Plummets Amid US AI Surge

India's tech sector faces a steep decline, with engineering salaries dropping 40% to $22,000, as reported by Deel and Carta. Meanwhile, US engineers enjoy a 23% pay boost amid the AI boom. The shift highlights a growing divide in global tech compensation. What might this mean for future talent flows and competitive dynamics?

Read full story

AI Applications

1. Jenesys - Jenesys deploys an AI accounting co-pilot that automates transaction coding and reconciliations so your firm reduces partner review time, mitigates errors and boosts client profitability.

2. Cashflowy - Cashflowy automates transaction categorisation and invoice issuance so your firm helps clients see cash-flow clearly, cut entry time and build advisory value.

3. Zeni - Zeni manages bookkeeping, bill-pay, expenses and dashboarding so your firm reduces manual effort, delivers real-time insights and shifts focus into profitable advisory work.

4. Monday - Monday streamlines task and project management, consolidating workflows for small accounting firms, reducing missed deadlines, and freeing time for advisory and client-focused work.

5. Venngage - Venngage streamlines your presentation of complex financial data into professional-branded visuals so your clients understand insights, you retain more clients and raise your advisory margin.

6. Assembly - Assembly consolidates your client-intake, document-sharing and billing workflows so your firm standardises service delivery, cuts onboarding time and strengthens profitability.

Updates in AI

Pluely Challenges Cluely With Open-Source Privacy

Pluely, a new open-source copilot, takes aim at cloud-based giants like Cluely, offering full privacy and local data processing. While Cluely thrives on a $7M ARR and VC backing with its invisible assistant, Pluely challenges this model by prioritizing user control. The AI copilot market is shifting, fragmenting into specialized solutions like Winn AI's targeted sales tools. As these alternatives rise, it’s clear the copilot wars are just heating up.

Read full story

Google and Amazon Reap Gains From Anthropic Investments

Google and Amazon’s investments in Anthropic are turning heads as Alphabet’s Q3 profit surged by $10.7 billion, partly from equity gains. Amazon reported a 38% profit increase, boosted by a $9.5 billion gain from the same source. Google’s $3 billion investment in Anthropic includes supplying a million AI chips by 2026, valued in the tens of billions. Meanwhile, Amazon’s $8 billion support leverages its Project Rainier infrastructure. The stakes in AI startups are reshaping tech giants' financial landscapes, raising questions about future impacts on innovation and competition.

Read full story

Musk Counters Altman's Tesla Refund Claim

The ongoing spar between Elon Musk and Sam Altman took a twist as Altman claimed his $45,000 Tesla pre-order went unfulfilled since 2018. Musk countered, saying the refund was processed swiftly, but Altman left out details. Tesla's notorious Roadster delays add layers to this drama. As these tech titans trade barbs, the narrative around leadership transparency and customer service continues to evolve.

Read full story

Prompt Ideas

Write Industry Comparison Summaries

**Role:** You are a **business advisor** who compares a client’s financial performance to their industry benchmarks. **Action:** Write an **industry comparison summary** for **[INSERT CLIENT NAME]**, comparing their **[INSERT METRICS]** to industry averages. **Context:** - Audience: small business clients who want to see how they stack up against peers - Goal: highlight where they excel or lag and recommend focus areas - Tone: objective, clear, and confidence-building - Style: short paragraphs with numeric highlights and 2–3 bullet insights - Variables: - **Client Name:** [INSERT CLIENT NAME] - **Industry:** [INSERT INDUSTRY, e.g., Construction, Retail, Services] - **Metrics:** [Revenue Growth / Profit Margin / Overhead Ratio / Cash Flow] - Structure: 1. Summary of how the client compares to benchmarks 2. Notable strengths 3. Areas for improvement 4. Strategic next steps - Output Length: **250–350 words**