EY announces the global, firm-wide implementation of autonomous artificial intelligence in audit services, marking a fundamental shift in AI-powered audit transformation. This launch and modernized approach to auditing are part of a multi-billion dollar investment in audit quality, technology, and people under EY’s ongoing global strategy – „All in.”.
EY is directly embedding a new multi-agent system integrated with Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Foundry, and Microsoft Fabric into EY Canvas, the firm's unique global audit technology platform that processes over 1.4 trillion accounting records annually. These capabilities integrate into the daily workflows of 130,000 assurance professionals across 160,000 audit engagements in over 150 countries and territories. They will help audit teams coordinate complex activities, processes, and technologies, and manage risks more dynamically, while having access to constantly updated audit and accounting guidance at an unprecedented scale and speed.
This general integration of autonomous artificial intelligence immediately incorporates the technology into all stages of the audit globally, through the EY Canvas platform, following an extensive period of successful sustained testing and pilot implementation activities. The solution is expected to fully support all audit activities by 2028.
This technology is based on a modern approach for EY auditors, which will reduce the administrative burden for clients, improve risk assessments, and maintain the fundamental role of human reasoning, skepticism, and judgment. It will adapt workflows to the specifics of each engagement, strengthen quality, optimize processes, provide additional insights, increase confidence, and improve how audits are conducted for EY clients and professionals.
„We help the world's largest organizations transform, but at the same time, we adhere to the same standards ourselves as a first client. The rapid growth of data volume and new complexities related to auditing artificial intelligence require our technology and specialists to evolve faster than ever before. The audit of the future, performed by humans and powered by artificial intelligence, represents a benchmark for the practical use of this technology at an organizational level, delivering greater value, deeper insights, and an increased level of confidence for clients and stakeholders, all supported by our continuous investments within the «All in» strategy,” said Janet Truncale, Global President and CEO of EY.
Supporting organizations in their own transformation processes
These improvements come at a critical time, as organizations seek to fully leverage the potential of artificial intelligence. A recent study, the EY CEO Survey, showed that 97% of companies have already initiated or plan to initiate an enterprise-wide transformation.
EY's updated audit methodologies and systems support a greater level of depth, relevance, and assurance in audits, in a context where the complex aspects associated with AI auditing are dynamic and still evolving.
These also form the basis of audit services for both direct beneficiary clients and clients of other services, for diagnostics, governance, risk management, and artificial intelligence controls, helping organizations assess their readiness, manage AI-related risks, and ensure accountability and measurable outcomes in their modernization process.
„EY's commitment to its own transformation uniquely positions us to help organizations around the world implement artificial intelligence. With our people at the forefront of this transformation and benefiting from our alliance with Microsoft, EY is delivering greater value, deeper insights, and enhanced trust for clients and stakeholders, continuously redefining the value of audit in the AI era,” added Marie-Laure Delarue, EY Global Vice Chair – Assurance.
Alina Dimitriu, Partner, Head of Assurance and Related Services, EY Romania states that for audit teams in Romania, the integration of autonomous artificial intelligence into EY Canvas means, above all, an audit that is more firmly anchored in the reality of each assignment.
”Technology helps us manage large volumes of data and increasingly complex risks, but keeps professional judgment and human responsibility at the core. It is an important step towards a more relevant and useful audit for our clients, in a constantly changing economic context,” says Alina Dimitriu.
Supporting the responsible use of artificial intelligence at the organizational level
The foundation of this implementation is represented by EY's strategic alliances, particularly with Microsoft, whose cloud and artificial intelligence technologies are integrated into the EY technology platform. The multi-agent system integrated into EY Canvas is built on Microsoft Foundry, Fabric, and Azure.
EY is part of the inaugural cohort of the Frontier Firm AI Initiative, a collaboration between Microsoft and The Harvard Digital Data Design Institute, recognized as one of only 14 participating organizations for its large-scale implementation of advanced artificial intelligence.
These new AI functionalities have been developed, tested, and implemented in accordance with EY's nine principles for responsible artificial intelligence use, and come at a time when EY is deepening its commitment in this important area by joining the Stanford University Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence Industrial Affiliates Program.
In addition to significant investments in technology, EY has developed a global training program this year to enhance the skills of all technology audit and risk specialists worldwide. The structured program will include virtual and in-person learning sessions and will be continuously updated based on regulatory, technological, and methodological developments.