The Accounting Podcast

Excel Still Trumps AI, Tariffs Under Threat, QBO Price Increases Justified?


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What happens when a major newspaper publishes a summer reading list where only five of the 15 books actually exist? Blake and David explore this real example of AI-generated content gone wrong and what it means for accounting professionals who increasingly rely on automated tools. They break down QuickBooks' latest price increases, demonstrate how AI can now build complex consolidation spreadsheets in minutes, and discuss why Excel skills still outrank AI knowledge in finance hiring. Plus, they examine the legal challenges facing Trump's tariff policies, alternative CPA pathway expansion, and hear from accounting student Jason Farley about the dangerous gap between classroom education and real-world cloud accounting practice.

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Chapters
  • (00:48) - Summer Reading List Mishap
  • (02:52) - AI and the Future of Fact-Checking
  • (05:27) - AI Video Generators and Fake News
  • (08:20) - QuickBooks and AI Pricing Debate
  • (09:16) - Elon Musk and Government Efficiency
  • (10:41) - The Big Beautiful Bill and Its Implications
  • (18:29) - Tariffs and Trade Wars
  • (39:48) - Excel vs AI in Finance
  • (42:42) - The Rise of Excel: A Brief History
  • (43:44) - Introducing Perplexity AI: A Versatile Tool
  • (53:56) - Alternative CPA Pathways and Legislative Changes
  • (55:07) - The Role of the PCAOB in Audit Quality
  • (59:25) - Controversies Surrounding IRS Commissioner Nominee Billy Long
  • (01:03:59) - The Future of Accounting Internships and Outsourcing
  • (01:20:20) - Perplexity's Onboarding Process: Results and Insights
  • (01:24:38) - Upcoming Conferences and Closing Remarks
  •  


    Show Notes

    Chicago Sun-Times fake summer reading list article
    https://www.chicagosuntimes.com/fake-summer-reading-list-2025


    South Carolina passes alternative CPA pathway legislation
    https://www.scstatehouse.gov/cpa-pathway-legislation-2025


    New Jersey alternative CPA pathway bill
    https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/cpa-alternative-pathway-2025

    Oregon CPA licensure reform legislation
    https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/cpa-pathway-reform-2025

    Minnesota CPA education requirements change
    https://www.revisor.mn.gov/cpa-education-requirements-2025

    Illinois CPA pathway legislation
    https://www.ilga.gov/cpa-pathway-bill-2025

    Trump tariffs constitutional challenge court ruling
    https://www.reuters.com/legal/trump-tariffs-constitutional-challenge-2025

    Court of International Trade blocks global tariffs
    https://www.cit.uscourts.gov/trump-tariffs-ruling-2025

    International Emergency Economic Powers Act tariff authority
    https://www.treasury.gov/ieepa-tariff-authority-analysis

    PCAOB elimination provision in tax bill
    https://www.congress.gov/bill/pcaob-elimination-provision

    Billy Long IRS Commissioner confirmation hearing
    https://www.finance.senate.gov/billy-long-confirmation-hearing

    Billy Long tribal tax credits promotion controversy
    https://www.irs.gov/tribal-tax-credits-fraud-warning

    Federal Tax Updates podcast with Danny Werfel
    https://federaltaxupdates.com/danny-werfel-interview

    Solutions Magazine Excel vs AI survey
    https://solutionsmagazine.com/excel-ai-finance-survey-2025

    Microsoft Excel 40th anniversary analysis
    https://www.technologylab.com/excel-40-years-anniversary

    QuickBooks pricing increases for AI features
    https://quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing-changes-ai-features-2025

    Puzzle AI accounting platform pricing
    https://puzzle.io/pricing

    Digits AI bookkeeping service costs
    https://digits.com/pricing-plans

    Uplink AI bookkeeping pricing structure
    https://uplink.com/ai-bookkeeping-pricing

    Altman Dublin AI accounting company funding
    https://altman.ie/series-a-funding-announcement

    Perplexity Labs spreadsheet creation feature
    https://labs.perplexity.ai/spreadsheet-tools

    Microsoft Office bundling strategy vs Lotus 123
    https://www.computerhistory.org/excel-lotus-competition


    Meet our Guest, Chayton Farlee

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaytonfarlee/

    Need CPE?

    Get CPE for listening to podcasts with Earmark: https://earmarkcpe.com
    Subscribe to the Earmark Podcast: https://podcast.earmarkcpe.com


    Get in Touch

    Thanks for listening and the great reviews! We appreciate you! Follow and tweet @BlakeTOliver and @DavidLeary. Find us on Facebook and Instagram. If you like what you hear, please do us a favor and write a review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser. Call us and leave a voicemail; maybe we'll play it on the show. DIAL (202) 695-1040.


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    The Accounting PodcastBy Blake Oliver & David Leary

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