The integration of artificial intelligence into professional services represents a significant shift in how firms manage compliance, risk, and operational efficiency. According to Asael Meir, Partner and Technology Industry Leader at CohnReznick, AI enables companies to simultaneously embed quality improvements into operations while reducing costs, marking a transformation in business practices.
Speaking at Benzinga's Fintech Day & Awards 2025, Meir emphasized that AI excels in handling repetitive tasks such as formatting, proofing, research, and content creation at reduced cost and increased speed. He noted that AI's capability to provide real-time risk management represents a departure from traditional interval-based approaches, allowing for immediate client feedback in today's continuously connected environment. This evolution in compliance and quality control is driven by client expectations for value in AI innovation across audit and tax services.
The broader implications extend beyond individual firm operations to the financial services sector as a whole. Panelists at the event, including during the Benzinga Fintech Day & Award 2025 panel on dealmaking, agreed that AI presents both challenges and opportunities. While rapid technological advancement makes investment decisions more complex, AI's ability to automate manual and labor-intensive processes in financial services is considered transformational.
A major trend anticipated for 2026 is the convergence of decentralized finance and artificial intelligence within a more accommodating regulatory landscape. This convergence is expected to facilitate larger capital raises for companies operating in this space, with Ripple's recent $500 million funding at a $40 billion valuation likely to spur further sector interest. The content discussing these developments was originally published on Benzinga, providing additional context on industry disclosures.
The importance of this transformation lies in its potential to redefine professional service delivery models, enhance regulatory compliance through continuous monitoring, and create new investment opportunities at the intersection of emerging technologies. As AI systems and tools continue to improve, their adoption within compliance functions is expected to grow, fundamentally changing how professional services firms operate and compete in an increasingly digital marketplace.
