PwC rolls out research bot ChatNational

Staffers from Big Four firm PwC will now have access to its new ChatNational tool, a large language model generative AI bot that is designed exclusively for accounting, auditing and reporting research.

ChatNational is, specifically, an internal generative AI research tool for U.S.-based assurance professionals that seamlessly integrates with Viewpoint, the firm's global research platform. Engagement teams can ask it questions on accounting, auditing or reporting matters and get answers based on PwC's own guidance. The tool was developed with the assistance of specialists from the national office, who focused on things like how users will ask questions to what content the model will draw upon to provide answers.

Users do not need advanced knowledge of large-language models or prompting techniques. The tool includes an in-application "Query Builder" function which helps professionals to learn how to more effectively utilize the tool's capabilities. By providing a guided experience, ChatNational enables users to quickly generate AI-driven responses to their research queries. In general, PwC professionals have been using ChatNational to familiarize themselves more quickly and effectively with complex accounting, reporting and auditing topics.

Jennifer Kosar, the firm's U.S. AI assurance leader, noted that ChatNational is intended to supplement, not replace, the judgment of their human professionals.

"As AI and GenAI capabilities become embedded in our daily activities, human supervision and review will remain key," she said. "Auditors and the organizations we serve must be diligent as they use these types of tools to both identify new risks and continue to innovate. AI technology will be a supplement for their intelligence, judgment and professional skepticism — not a replacement. In our own development, we remain dedicated to Responsible AI, a set of leading practices, tools, assets and tech-enabled solutions that can help organizations build trust," she said in the LinkedIn post announcing the new tool."

ChatNational contrasts with another generative AI tool at the firm, ChatPwC. Engagement teams are prohibited from using ChatPwC for accounting questions to support an audit. Instead, that model is more of a general purpose operational and administrative tool to do things like perform analyses and automate certain tasks. ChatPwC is at its core very similar to ChatGPT, on which it is based. ChatNational, on the other hand, is more of a research tool and informational resource. It is designed solely for accounting, auditing and reporting, specifically designed to assist with answering a specific type of question.  

Many major accounting firms have leaned hard into generative AI since it first hit the scene just a few years back, and PwC is certainly no exception, having pledged around $1 billion worth of investments into the new technology. More recently, it also penned a deal with OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, to become the first reseller for ChatGPT Enterprise and the largest user of the product. Kosar noted that the release of ChatNational represents just one more step into its overall commitment for itself and its clients.

"As we embrace the potential of AI, we continue to prioritize responsible and effective use, equipping our people with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven world," she said. "With ChatNational, we are excited to empower our people to navigate complex assurance questions with greater efficiency and accuracy,"