ATL238
Episode 238: Selecting The Right AI Partner
Accounting Technology Lab | CPA Practice Advisor
Youtube link: https://cpate.ch/ATL238
CPAPA link: TBD
Episode Summary
In Episode 238 of the Accounting Technology Lab, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley are joined by Hrishikesh “Rishi” Pippadipally, Partner and CIO at Wiss, to explore how accounting firms should evaluate and select AI partners. The discussion moves beyond flashy demos to focus on practical adoption, data privacy, and governance in a highly regulated profession. Rishi explains why industry context matters more than generic AI capabilities, emphasizing that tax, audit, and advisory workflows require domain-specific intelligence.
The panel details Wiss’s structured approach to AI evaluation, including piloting vendors, tiering partners by strategic importance, and closely examining data usage, retention policies, and sub-processors. They explore the rise of agentic AI, where multi-step workflows automate accounting tasks while keeping humans in the loop for professional judgment. The episode also highlights how AI improves productivity through transaction coding, reconciliations, and payroll automation—freeing staff to focus on advisory services. The conversation concludes with practical guidance on change management, staff reskilling, and why firms should “buy partners, not tools” when investing in AI.
Featured Quotes
| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp |
|---|---|---|
| “Don’t buy the tool—buy the partner. Demos don’t tell the full story.” | Hrishikesh Pippadipally | ~29:30 |
| “Industry context is everything. Generic AI doesn’t think like an accountant.” | Hrishikesh Pippadipally | ~04:40 |
| “Data privacy isn’t optional—it’s part of CPA licensure.” | Randy Johnston | ~01:45 |
| “Agentic AI is here, but humans still need to be in the loop.” | Hrishikesh Pippadipally | ~10:20 |
| “AI moves staff from being preparers to being reviewers.” | Hrishikesh Pippadipally | ~17:45 |
Products, Services, and Companies Mentioned
| Product / Company | X (Twitter) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiss | @wissandco | Wiss & Company | Wiss & Company | @wissandco |
| Basis | @usebasis | Basis | Basis | @usebasis |
| Thomson Reuters | @thomsonreuters | Thomson Reuters | Thomson Reuters | @thomsonreuters |
| CoCounsel | @thomsonreuters | Thomson Reuters | Thomson Reuters | @thomsonreuters |
| Rillet | @rilletapp | Rillet | Rillet | @rilletapp |
| Tabs | @tabs_inc | Tabs | Tabs | @tabs_inc |
| CPA Practice Advisor | @CPAPracticeAd | CPA Practice Advisor | CPA Practice Advisor | @cpapracticeadvisor |
