This Is Our Moment to Move the Profession Forward
Every generation of accountants gets its shot to push the profession forward. And right now, that turn is ours. The signal is blinking hard toward AI, and not in a “someday maybe” kind of way. I’m talking about a here-and-now, roll-up-your-sleeves kind of shift.
Yes, there’s a lot of buzz. And yes, you’ve probably sat through a few too many demos full of “game-changing” slides. But real transformation doesn’t come from shiny decks or hype. It comes from the people inside the profession deciding to build something better. On purpose. With purpose.
The AI-X Movement is a mission. It’s about using AI for more than streamlining processes or fattening up profit margins (though, hey, those are great side effects). It’s about creating something bigger – a smarter, more human, future-ready profession.
This is our moment. Not just to adopt new tools, but to lay the rails for how they’re used. To center people. To build from the inside out. And to finally take the lead in where this profession goes next.
Here’s how I see it…
It’s not a trend, it’s a tactic
You’ve heard the AI “hype” (it’s not really hype…for the record). You’ve sat through the demos and maybe even rolled your eyes at yet another “disruptive” pitch. But disruption for its own sake is tired.
The AI-X Movement isn’t about a flash-in-the-pan tool or running toward whatever the influencers are promoting this month. It’s about putting AI to work for something bigger than profit…and centering humans, not just the code, at every step.
It’s about leveraging AI for a bigger, common purpose. And the purpose is one the whole profession should share, because it’s about moving the needle for all of us.
Building for purpose, not just profit
This point is best made with a real-life example…
A lot of startup stories begin with a big VC infusion. This one’s different. The company at the heart of this AI movement, XcelLabs (which I co-founded), chose something radical. We secured funding with a respected nonprofit partner, PICPA (Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants) and CPA Crossings.
Why? Because when you’re leading a profession, you need rails to run on, trust that runs deep and a reach that stretches across the country. This is how you build for the long haul. It’s how you build with a purpose and not just with an eye on profit.
PICPA offers all those things VCs can’t like real access, credibility and a shared mission that’s greater than ROI. Instead of shouting to be heard, this partnership is about strengthening the foundation of the profession so it can carry new ideas far and wide. All without losing touch with what matters most, the advancement of the accounting profession.
Laying down rails
For the AIX Movement to spread across the profession, you need a good idea and people who understand what accountants actually need.
That’s why this AI-X approach is about building infrastructure or rails that every new tool, platform or innovation can run on. Instead of waving a technology pitch presentation at investors, the focus is on building “with ducks, not decks.” That means focusing on practical, mission-driven progress over flashy, disruptive VC experiences.
When those leading a movement are inside the profession, the trust is already there.
Preserving a human-centric approach
What sets the AI-X movement apart is keeping people at the core. While some folks imagine a future where humans are a minor detail, this movement puts accounting professionals smack dab in the center.
AI isn’t a replacement for humans. Rather, it’s an amplifier for the expertise, ethics and experience that make this profession a cornerstone of industry. And it's about what’s happening now, in the trenches, with real firms and practitioners leading the charge from within.
Open the door and walk through
AI-X is not an exclusive club. Anyone can join and benefit. In fact, everyone who is dedicated to moving the profession forward, from accounting professionals to vendors to consultants and thought leaders, is required to help advance the AI-X movement. The goal is to move the needle for the entire profession, and that means we need to work collectively to gain and sustain momentum.
The rails are ready, and the movement is waiting for those who want to help lead. And not just their own firm, but to lead the entire accounting profession into a smarter, more human-centric future.
So, let’s stop imagining. Let’s start distributing the future together. With AI as the power tool, and people as the purpose, anything is possible. The profession’s new era is here, and it’s being led by those with the vision (and the guts) to build it from the inside out.
