This course explores generative AI (genAI) and prompt engineering and the relevance of these tools to accounting. The course will explain how generative AI differs from non-generative AI and help participants to understand current use, limitations, and risks associated with genAI integration in audits and financial reporting. The course will also explore best practices for writing prompts and common prompt engineering tools and techniques.
Learning Objectives
- Explain the principles of generative AI (i.e., ChatGPT), distinguish it from non-generative AI, and explore its frequent use cases
- Understand the current use, limitations, risks, and supervision of genAI integration in audits and financial reporting
- Apply best practices for creating prompts and explore examples of impactful prompts
- Practice common prompt engineering techniques and approaches for writing effective prompts
- Explore commonly used tools to aid with prompt engineering
Major Topics
- Principles of generative AI vs. non-generative AI
- Common use cases of generative AI in accounting
- Current use, limitations, and risks of genAI
- Real-world applications in audits and financial reporting
- Understanding the risks and challenges (e.g., data privacy, accuracy)
- Supervision and governance of genAI tools in accounting
- Best practices for prompt engineering
- Crafting effective prompts for generative AI
- Exploring examples of impactful and efficient prompts
- Ensuring ethical and responsible prompt design
- Common prompt engineering techniques
- Zero-shot, few-shot, and chain-of-thought prompting
- The interview pattern and tree-of-thought approaches
- Practical examples and hands-on prompt creation
- Tools for prompt engineering
