Toronto, July 9, 2025 (Globe Newswire) – Artificial intelligence (AI) is embedded in everyday life, raising concerns about privacy, bias and misuse, and chartered professional accountants (CPAs) are positioned independently to bridge the trust gap.
A new joint publication from CPA Canada and the US CPAS Institute (AICPA) examines the pressing need for reliable monitoring of AI and highlights how CPA-driven assurance services can address key risks.
“Life in AI is not just about alleviating public concerns. It is essential to reduce the risk of financial losses, regulatory penalties and reputational damage,” said Melissa Robertson, AI expert at CPA Canada and co-author of the paper. “These risks are particularly high in Canada, where AI literacy is the lowest in the world.”
One of the most effective ways to build trust is through independent assurance. It is a service that CPA has long provided in other high-risk areas. Warranty can provide third-party verification that complex systems will design and work as intended. This expertise is now extended to AI.
“We have established processes, professional standards and tools to ensure quality,” adds Robertson. “As a trust-based regulatory profession, CPAs bring the skills, surveillance and objectivity that AI systems require.”
CPA has already applied a guarantee and compliance framework to help evaluate critical technologies such as HR platforms, financial systems, and cloud-based storage services. These assessments are based on proven CPA audit practices and reliable tools, including the Systems and Organization Control (SOC) suite, which address key areas such as security, privacy, and reliability, providing peace of mind for clients and regulators.
“Most organizations already rely on SOC reports to validate their systems,” says Robertson. “There is currently a growing demand from key players for the same level of guarantees around AI. Today, many CPA companies employ AI guarantees as a service.
To request a copy of your research paper or to arrange an interview with Melissa Robertson, Principal of Research and Thinking Leadership at CPA Canada, contact media@cpacanada.ca.
About the paper
Closing the AI Trust Gap: The role of CPA in AI guarantees CPA Canada's third and final paper and AICPA's artificial intelligence series. It outlines how CPAs can apply their assurance expertise, including established standards, surveillance models, and specialized judgments, to help CPAs build trust in AI systems. This paper is aimed at business leaders, regulators, and technology stakeholders seeking a practical and independent approach to AI surveillance.
