Digits takes on the big guys, and other tech stories you may have missed

April 16, 2025 10:00 AM

Digits is taking on QuickBooks and Xero with its AI-powered accounting platform, cyber teams may not be reporting everything they should, and eight other things that happened in technology this past month and how they'll impact your clients and your firm.

1. Digits takes on QuickBooks and Xero

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Digits launched an AI-powered accounting platform called the Autonomous General Ledger, designed to compete with QuickBooks and Xero. The platform automates bookkeeping tasks, such as categorizing transactions and reconciling accounts, providing real-time financial insights. Digits' proprietary AI models — trained on over $825 billion in small-business transactions — outperform generic large language models like ChatGPT. The platform aims to address the shortage of accountants by allowing them to do more with less. Pricing starts at $100 per month for startups and small businesses. (Source: Fast Company)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: Get ready for a wave of new AI companies offering better solutions for accounting than the name brands we use right now. That's because companies like Intuit and Xero are operating off of older architectures and structured database systems designed over the past few decades. Companies like Digits are starting from scratch with the latest and greatest models. But don't count out the big brands. Intuit, Xero and others will partner, invest and outright buy companies that can offer similar solutions.

2. 40% of cyber teams haven't reported attacks

Cybersecurity company VikingCloud has published some very telling research. Among professionals in the U.S., U.K. and Ireland, 40% of cybersecurity teams admitted they have avoided reporting cyber incidents due to fear of job loss. This underreporting highlights a significant gap in addressing cyber breaches globally. Despite this, 96% of companies surveyed expressed confidence in their ability to detect and respond to attacks in real-time, which may lead to a false sense of security. Additionally, 68% of teams admitted they couldn't meet the Securities and Exchange Commission's new four-day disclosure rule for cyber incidents. The report emphasizes the challenges faced by cybersecurity professionals and the need for improved resilience and response strategies. (Source: Business Wire)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: Yes, this is very eye opening! Imagine not knowing about a security breach because your IT team doesn't want to admit it! This is all about company culture and having an environment where people don't have to be afraid to make mistakes. Take this information seriously and have a heart to heart with your tech people. It's better to know than not to know.

3. Windows will soon judge your PC hardware

Tom Warren of The Verge discussed a new feature Microsoft is working on that will alert users if their PC's performance is wearing down. A Windows enthusiast posted details on X of this "FAQ feature" that would inform users of RAM memory, GPU and other components. In previous years Windows used a score system through its Windows Experience Index — rating each system with a "subscore" that was factored into an overall score to indicate a PC's capacity to run upgraded versions of Windows. Though no official announcement has been made about when this feature will appear, some speculate it will be soon as the feature appears to be in testing mode. (Source: The Verge)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: A good step forward, but instead of letting us know of performance breakdowns, how about using agentic AI behind the scenes to just fix the problems so performance stays high? AI is best used when we don't know about it — fine-tuning, adjusting, updating, all in the background. We don't want to know about problems. We just want to be comfortable that something is being done to monitor and then fix those problems so we can stay focused on our businesses.

4. HoneyBook accelerates AI innovation

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HoneyBook unveiled its next phase of AI-powered business management tools, designed to help service-based entrepreneurs streamline operations and boost growth. By embedding AI directly into workflows, HoneyBook enables automation that is seamless and proactive. The company claims that entrepreneurs using HoneyBook AI have reported significant benefits, including doubling their project bookings and achieving 94% higher gross payment volume. The platform also helps users save up to three hours per week on manual tasks, allowing more time for client work and business growth. (Source: Yahoo Finance)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: For small businesses in the service sector, HoneyBook is a powerful tool to help both marketing and the implementation of services. As the company leans more into AI — like many similar companies — you can expect more time savings and better productivity. Definitely an application worth trying.

5. Otter.ai's agent can schedule calls, write emails

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Otter.ai introduced a voice-activated AI Meeting Agent that can actively participate in virtual meetings. This agent can answer questions, schedule follow-ups, draft emails and perform other tasks based on meeting data. Initially compatible with Zoom, it will soon support Microsoft Teams and Google Meet. Otter also launched specialized agents for sales and product demos, aiming to streamline workflows and enhance productivity. The company has said it plans to release more "vertical" agents in the future. (Source: Engadget)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: I've turned a few of my clients on to this app because it does meetings so well. I think its best capabilities are when you use it on your mobile device in face-to-face meetings, rather than just online. Taking advantage of Otter.ai when you're at a customer allows you to focus more on the relationships and not worry about taking notes and actions. If you're going to lean into this app, I recommend using it when you're onsite, not just online.

6. Zoom's AI goes agentic

Zoom introduced new agentic capabilities in its AI Companion, enhancing productivity and collaboration. Features include Zoom Tasks that automatically identify action items from meeting summaries, chats and emails, and complete tasks like scheduling follow-ups. Voice Recorder transcribes and summarizes in-person conversations, and is accessible via the Zoom Workplace mobile app. Meeting Agendas helps hosts manage meetings with agenda timers and live AI-generated notes. Advanced References in Zoom Docs create writing plans and data tables from meeting summaries and other content. (Source: ZDNet)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: As I've been writing … here come the agents! Zoom CPO Smita Hashim said, "AI Companion is evolving from a personal assistant to being truly agentic … a major leap forward in how AI can enhance productivity and collaboration at work."

7. OpenAI's new image generator goes viral

Viral ChatGPT Spurs Concerns About Propaganda and Hacking Risks

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Last month OpenAI released a powerful image generator tool as part of its ChatGPT offerings that displays incredibly vivid images. It's become so viral that the company says demand is "melting" their GPUs! (Source: Open AI, CNBC)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: The image generator's capabilities are extremely powerful and can have an enormous impact on a company or firm's marketing and branding. According to the company: "GPT-4o image generation excels at accurately rendering text, precisely following prompts, and leveraging 4o's inherent knowledge base and chat context — including transforming uploaded images or using them as visual inspiration. These capabilities make it easier to create exactly the image you envision, helping you communicate more effectively through visuals and advancing image generation into a practical tool with precision and power." Check out this X post for some great examples.

8. LinkedIn introduces marketing updates

LinkedIn introduced updates to its Campaign Manager, aiming to enhance marketers' success. Key features include a Media Planner for forecasting campaign results; dynamic UTMs for easier tracking; and improved dashboards for detailed performance insights. Additionally, an AI-driven Campaign Performance Digest provides plain-text explanations of campaign strengths and weaknesses. (Source: LinkedIn)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: According to the company, these updates focus on refining strategies, optimizing ad spend and simplifying campaign management. Included are comments/reviews from business owners who have used these tools to enhance their campaigns. LinkedIn Campaigns are more expensive than most other social media platforms, but then again, you get what you pay for: access to excellent B2B data. These tools can be a big help to marketers that lean heavily on this platform.

9. Meet the future of customer service

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JotForm's latest innovation — AI Agents — has been designed to revolutionize customer service. These agents provide 24/7 conversational support tailored to various industries and use cases. Key features include customizable avatars, training with multiple information sources, over 1,000 templates, voice and phone agents, WhatsApp integration and embeddable chatbots. JotForm AI Agents aim to streamline processes, enhance productivity and improve customer relationships. Businesses can automate tasks like emailing stakeholders or building databases, freeing up time for strategic priorities. (Source: TechCrunch)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: What's not mentioned in the above report is something that I think is most important about JotForm: its ability to integrate with countless business applications — accounting, CRM, HR, etc. It's a very easy-to-use platform for building forms and then using AI to automate processes. It moves data back and forth with other systems efficiently. I'm a fan of this platform and its capabilities for most businesses and I prefer it over Google Forms.

10. Is Chinese-made AI Manus overhyped?

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Manus — an AI developed by the Chinese company Butterfly Effect — is making waves as a fully autonomous AI agent. Not everyone is sold. AI developer Lutz Finger says Manus is "overhyped" and not as revolutionary as it claims to be. Unlike DeepSeek — which introduced meaningful advancements — Manus is seen as just another large language model executing scripted workflows. Finger emphasizes that Manus lacks true decision-making capabilities and operates based on statistical averages rather than genuine insights. However, Yichao Ji — co-founder and chief scientist of Manus AI — insists that "[Manus] isn't just another chatbot or workflow, it's a truly autonomous agent that bridges the gap between conception and execution." Its multi-agent architecture allows it to manage intricate workflows with minimal user intervention. This system comprises specialized sub-agents that collaborate under the supervision of an executive agent, enhancing efficiency and reducing the need for constant user oversight — a promising glimpse into artificial general intelligence, which aims to think and learn like humans. (Source: Forbes; The Independent)

Why this is important for your firm and clients: Manus and DeepSeek are indeed overhyped, mainly because they've revealed that Silicon Valley isn't the only game in town for innovative AI models and platforms. But it's going to be a stretch for businesses to rely on a Chinese-backed platform with their data. And many American companies are already developing similar knock-offs. All of this is good for small businesses. Competition keeps prices under control.