Every finance team is under pressure to do something with AI. This session covered what that looks like in practice. The word AI spans a wide range of tools, from a basic chatbot to software that reviews every transaction and resolves issues on its own. Confusion sets in when vendors, headlines, and boardrooms use the same term to mean very different things. That gap makes it hard to know what you are evaluating and where it fits in your team.
We opened by defining the main types of AI. We then compared how different industries are putting AI to work while navigating headlines about AI replacing headcount. From there we turned practical, with a framework for evaluating the right AI for your finance workforce and the change management questions that decide whether adoption succeeds.
Throughout, we connected AI back to what finance leaders and teams care about, from shorter close cycles and less administrative load to better insights for strategic decisions.
In this session, we discussed
- Defining the types of AI, from chatbots and assistive chat to rules-based detection and autonomous resolution
- Cutting through the hype, the scare headlines, and the high-profile AI partnerships
- Comparing AI trends across manufacturing, software, finance, education, and professional services
- Evaluating the right AI for your team, starting with where your time goes and the insights you need
- Working through change management, from leadership mandates and budget to internal adoption and outside perception
- Building a hybrid workforce with governance and insights, working alongside your existing ERP or EMS