ChatGPT’nin Muhasebe Mesleğine ve Muhasebecilere Yönelik Öngörüleri: Fırsatlar ve Riskler
ChatGPT’s Insights for the Accounting Profession and Accountants: Opportunities and Risks

Summary/Abstract: Digitalization means transforming traditional business processes, services, or products using digital technologies and adapting these processes to the digital environment. Digitalization includes transferring information storage and sharing to digital platforms, using data analytics, and using new technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The digitalization of the accounting profession is experiencing a significant change, especially with the use of artificial intelligence-supported chatbots such as ChatGPT. ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence model that generates human-like responses to text-based questions. This technology has the potential to simplify accounting processes, increase efficiency, and ensure the accuracy of financial reports. Quickly analyzing large data sets can save time and cost and contribute to financial decision-making processes. ChatGPT version 3.5 was released in 2022 and can be used for free. ChatGPT 3.5 is trained using a data set through end-2022 and can use data through end-2022 when answering questions. It has been determined that there are a significant number of studies in the literature examining the impact of ChatGPT on the accounting profession and accountants in 2023. In some studies, findings obtained based on chatting with ChatGPT were used. In the literature review, no studies questioning ChatGPT's answers were found. The study's main purpose is to examine the effects of artificial intelligence-based ChatGPT on accountants and the accounting profession within the framework of opportunities and risks. The other aim of the study is to determine to what extent the chat results made with ChatGPT in line with the main purpose coincide with the findings in the literature. In this context, the study contents in the literature for 2023 include ChatGPT's question, "How will ChatGPT affect accountants?" Does it support the themes in its answer to the question? was determined as the research question. "What are the opportunities and threats that ChatGPT provides to accountants within the framework of the determined themes?" is another research question. In the first stage of the study, an English conversation was held with ChatGPT regarding the research topic, and ChatGPT was enabled to determine the themes related to the subject. In the second stage of the study, publications related to the subject in Google Scholar and Yalova University library databases were listed using keywords such as "ChatGPT and accountants" and "ChatGPT and accounting." Publications for 2023, which include terms such as artificial intelligence, ChatGPT, accounting, auditing, accountant, internal control, cost accounting, and management accounting, have been downloaded. In the third stage of the study, the downloaded articles were scanned with keywords based on the themes, and the relevant sentences supporting the themes determined by ChatGPT were colored. In the fourth stage of the study, the themes determined by ChatGPT were matched with the studies supporting these themes. It has been observed that the themes of "automation in repetitive tasks, data analysis and meaning, financial reporting, compliance, and audit support, customer support and communication, internship and training, cost reduction, incremental decision support, risk management, continuous learning" determined by ChatGPT are supported by studies in the 2023 literature. Based on ChatGPT's findings and the literature, it can be said that while artificial intelligence-supported chat robots provide various opportunities to the accounting profession, they also bring some risks. In particular, ChatGPT's theme of "automation in repetitive tasks" emphasizes the potential for reducing drudgery and represents the opportunity for the new generation of accountants to focus on more meaningful work. Data analysis and financial reporting are potential uses of ChatGPT and will add value to the work of professional accountants. Professional accountants will provide more support to their clients by providing consultancy, and the reduced drudgery will strengthen accountants' relationships with their clients. Another important contribution of ChatGPT is that it provides continuous learning opportunities to professional accountants and prospective professionals. In summary, ChatGPT has the potential to automate accounting processes, improve financial reporting and analysis, and improve audit and tax practices. However, there are several difficulties and risks in its use. Data security, accuracy of ChatGPT's responses, ethical concerns, cybersecurity, and legal issues are some of the risks in use. Since ChatGPT collects data from internet sources, its reliability should be questioned. Additionally, issues such as AI hallucinations, limited subject understanding, and lack of emotional intelligence may arise. It is important for accountants to be careful when using ChatGPT, verify the data, and use expert human opinions. Additionally, precautions should be taken against problems such as unemployment risk, data breaches, and bias.

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