Can artificial intelligence replace assurance, governance and risk management professionals?

Abstract

The digitalization of most businesses through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) presents a great threat to many professionals asking themselves if their skill set will still be relevant in the future. The purpose of the research was to understand if AI is ready to replace assurance, governance and risk management professionals in Southern Africa and across the globe. The author critically assessed the role of governance, assurance, and risk management professionals in business and the realities of emerging technology deduced from the author’s many years of practical work as an assurance professional. The methodology applied in this study was a narrative approach as the author wanted to gather the views of the conference participants and keep the audience engaged by asking questions during the conference session. The main findings of the paper were that governance, assurance, and risk management play a critical role in business strategy as corporate governance influences investment strategic decisions. This article challenges professionals to embrace and optimise innovative technologies to remain relevant in their areas of influence and expertise. In conclusion, businesses are encouraged to be more innovative and embrace entrepreneurship during the 4th to 5th Industrial Revolution (4IR to 5IR) transformation to improve efficiencies and customer experience (Paschek et al., 2019).