Past, Present, and Future Ethical Implications and Considerations of AI in Accounting: A Systematic Literature Review

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seen as a disruptive innovation that is affecting many industries and businesses, particularly accounting. This paper systematically reviews the current accounting literature, specifically focusing on the ethics of AI in accounting. The study uses the SPIDER tool, PRISMA Protocol, and NVivo software for the identification and analysis of journal articles and book chapters that included publications from 2019 to 2024. The paper identifies themes of trustworthiness, transparency, data privacy and security, awareness, accounting education and accountability. Additionally, the advantages included automating tasks or processes, cost savings or reduction, and competition, while disadvantages surround biases and black boxes. Future research opportunities are also discussed around the ethical implications of AI for the accounting profession.