But the truth is that every accountant can now benefit from AI in their practice -- even those who don't know the first thing about software engineering, data science or Python code. With today's off-the-shelf AI solutions, accountants can work smarter and deliver better service to their clients. Traditionally, implementing AI has required a level of knowledge and resources that are beyond the reach of most accounting firms. Whether it's selecting an AI platform, creating algorithms or training the AI, getting up and running with AI has always demanded a high level of technical acumen. But this is changing -- accounting professionals today no longer need to be tech geniuses to take advantage of AI.

Bench, a Vancouver-based online accounting firm, has transformed its bookkeeping business with artificial intelligence. The series: We look at decision makers among Canada's mid-sized companies who took successful action in a competitive global digital economy. Whether someone grows up wanting to be a photographer, a writer or to partake in any other skilled freelance or self-employed craft, they generally don't get into it for the love of filing taxes. But that's exactly where Ian Crosby sees Bench, a Vancouver-based online accounting firm, fitting into the work landscape, helping small businesses to stay on top of their financial obligations. "They start bringing in money and all of a sudden the government is like, 'Hey, you have to do this very specific math thing or you're in big trouble,' " says the co-founder and chief executive officer of one of North America's largest bookkeeping services.

Time and trust are challenges to overcome for many when considering new technologies and new ways of working. However, adoption of practical AI-based applications is rapidly increasing within professional services. Technology can't replace the human touch, or decision-making based on years of experience, but it can be used to help bookkeepers work more efficiently and grow their practice. So, what do businesses need to know to get started? Computer scientists are making strides in developing increasingly sophisticated AI-based applications and intelligent systems which mimic how humans work.

Robots are NOT going to replace all human accountants or bookkeepers (at least not anytime soon). White-collar workers who are part of the knowledge economy are beginning to experience what manual laborers have in the past when new technology made their jobs obsolete. Given the improvements we have recently seen in computing, many professionals fear for their future as machines threaten to overtake them. Rather than fear changes that machine learning will have on accounting tasks, it's an opportunity for accounting professionals to be excited. The profession is going to become more interesting as repetitive tasks shift to machines.

Robots are NOT going to replace all human accountants or bookkeepers (at least not anytime soon). White-collar workers who are part of the knowledge economy are beginning to experience what manual laborers have in the past when new technology made their jobs obsolete. Given the improvements we have recently seen in computing, many professionals fear for their future as machines threaten to overtake them. Rather than fear changes that machine learning will have on accounting tasks, it's an opportunity for accounting professionals to be excited. The profession is going to become more interesting as repetitive tasks shift to machines.

Business owners, be forewarned: The AccTech (accounting technology) bots are taking over. These bots are lines of code that grab information and communicate with humans about your business operations. They know (almost) everything before you've even whispered the thought, and they might want to take your bookkeeper's job -- or maybe just work alongside her. I had a recent conversation with Jan Haugo, CEO and vice president of the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers USA (ICBUSA), who emphasized all the ways emerging technologies will transform the role of small business bookkeeping. In particular, we discussed how machine learning and artificial intelligence will enable accountants to interact with bots the same way they would with a human co-worker.