ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN AUDITING: OPPORTUNITIES, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Year 2025, Volume: 27 Issue: 2, 77 - 95, 30.06.2025

Zehra Fırat

https://doi.org/10.31460/mbdd.1577715

Abstract

Amid growing data complexity, artificial intelligence (AI) holds transformative potential for auditing. This study explores AI’s role in enhancing audit efficiency and effectiveness, employing a qualitative research design based on secondary sources. It delves into the impacts of AI-driven technologies, like machine learning, on risk assessment, anomaly detection, and continuous auditing. While AI offers substantial benefits such as improved speed and accuracy, challenges related to data privacy, skills adaptation, and ethics persist. The paper calls for regulatory frameworks and skill sets to address them, providing practical guidelines for professionals and regulators and contributes to understanding AI’s transformative role in auditing.

Keywords

Artificial Intelligence, Auditing, Risk Assessment, Ethical Issues

Denetimde Yapay Zekâ: Fırsatlar, Zorluklar ve Gelecek Perspektifleri

Abstract

Artan veri karmaşıklığı çağında, Yapay Zekâ (YZ) denetim için dönüştürücü bir potansiyele sahiptir. Bu çalışmada, ikincil kaynaklara dayanan nitel bir araştırma yöntemi kullanılarak YZ’nin denetim verimliliği ve etkinliğini artırmadaki rolü incelenmiştir. Makine öğrenmesi gibi YZ destekli teknolojilerin risk değerlendirmesi, anormallik tespiti ve sürekli denetim üzerindeki etkilerine odaklanılmıştır. YZ, hız ve doğruluk gibi önemli faydalar sağlarken, veri gizliliği, yetkinliklerin uyarlanması ve etik konularla ilgili zorluklar devam etmektedir. Bu çalışmada, bu sorunları ele almak için düzenleyici çerçeveler ve beceri setlerinin geliştirilmesi gerektiği vurgulanmış ve profesyonellere ve düzenleyicilere pratik öneriler sunulmuştur. Bu çalışma ile, denetimde YZ’nin dönüştürücü rolünün anlaşılmasına katkı sağlanması amaçlanmıştır.

Keywords

Yapay Zekâ, Denetim, Risk Değerlendirmesi, Etik Sorunlar

References

• Adamyk, O., Benson, V., Adamyk, B., & Al-Khateeb, H. (2023). Does artificial intelligence help reduce audit risks? Proceedings - International Conference on Advanced Computer Information Technologies, ACIT, 294–298.
• Alastal, A. Y. M., Farhan, J. A., & Allaymoun, M. H. (2024). Auditors’ perceptions in Gulf countries towards using artificial intelligence in audit process. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, 487, 867–878.
• Almufadda, G., & Almezeini, N. (2022). Artificial Intelligence Applications in the Auditing Profession: A Literature Review. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 19(2), 29-42. https://doi.org/10.2308/JETA-2020-083.
• Al-Slais, Y., & Ali, M. (2023). Robotic process automation and intelligent automation security challenges: A review. 2023 International Conference on Cyber Management and Engineering, CyMaEn 2023, 71–77.
• Bhalla, A. P. S. (2024). AI in cybersecurity audit. The Emerging Role of AI-Based Expert Systems in Cyber Defense and Security, 31–58.
• Calvo, A., Ortiz, N., Espinosa, A., Dimitrievikj, A., Oliva, I., Guijarro, J., & Sidiqqi, S. (2023). Safe AI: Ensuring safe and responsible artificial intelligence. 2023 JNIC Cybersecurity Conference, JNIC 2023.
• Couceiro, B., Pedrosa, I., & Marini, A. (2020). State of the art of artificial intelligence in internal audit context. Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies, CISTI 2020-June.
• Dalwai, T. A. R., Madbouly, A., & Mohammadi, S. S. (2022). An investigation of artificial intelligence application in auditing. Accounting, Finance, Sustainability, Governance and Fraud, 101–114.
• Dambe, S., Gochhait, S., & Ray, S. (2023). The role of artificial intelligence in enhancing cybersecurity and internal audit. 2023 3rd International Conference on Advancement in Electronics and Communication Engineering, AECE 2023, 88–93.
• Düdder, B., Möslein, F., Stürtz, N., Westerlund, M., & Zicari, R. V. (2021). Ethical maintenance of artificial intelligence systems. Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Value Creation, 151–171.
• Fedyk, A., Hodson, J., Khimich, N., & Fedyk, T. (2022). Is artificial intelligence improving the audit process? Review of Accounting Studies, 27(3), 938–985.
• Ganapathy, V. (2023). AI in Auditing: A Comprehensive Review of Applications, Benefits, and Challenges. Shodh Sari - An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 2(4), 328-343. https://doi.org/10.59231/SARI7643.
• Gao, Q., & Kuang, Z. (2023). Can robotic process automation technology enable risk data analysis for customs’ post-clearance audit: A China customs case study. World Customs Journal, 17(2), 93–104.
• Handoko, B. L., Angelus, M., & Mulyawan, A. N. (2023). Diffusion of innovation on auditor adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning. ACM International Conference Proceeding Series, 20–26.
• Heye, A. M. (2021). The future of auditing: An analysis of AI implementation in the big four accounting firms (Honors Theses and Capstones No. 563).
• Hu, K.-H., Chen, F.-H., Hsu, M.-F., & Tzeng, G.-H. (2021). Identifying key factors for adopting artificial intelligence-enabled auditing techniques by joint utilization of Fuzzy-Rough Set Theory and MRDM technique. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 27(2), 459–492.
• Jedličková, A. (2024). Ethical approaches in designing autonomous and intelligent systems: a comprehensive survey towards responsible development. AI and Society.
• Kiesow, A., Zarvić, N., & Thomas, O. (2015). Design science for future ais: transferring continuous auditing issues to a gradual methodology. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 311–326.
• Laine, J., Minkkinen, M., & Mäntymäki, M. (2024). Ethics-based ai auditing: a systematic literature review on conceptualizations of ethical principles and knowledge contributions to stakeholders. Information and Management, 61(5).
• Leocádio, D., Malheiro, L., & Reis, J. (2024). Artificial intelligence in auditing: a conceptual framework for auditing practices. Administrative Sciences 14: 238. https://doi.org/10.3390/admsci14100238.
• Mishra, A. K., Anand, S., Debnath, N. C., Pokhariyal, P., & Patel, A. (2024). Artificial intelligence for risk mitigation in the financial industry. Artificial Intelligence for Risk Mitigation in The Financial Industry, 1–355.
• Murikah, W., Nthenge, J. K., & Musyoka, F. M. (2024). Bias and ethics of ai systems applied in auditing - a systematic review. Scientific African, 25.
• Nur Muslihatun, F. A., Sunarfri Hantono, B., & Fauziati, S. (2021). Using artificial intelligence technology for decision support system in audit risk assessment: A review paper. IEEE 5th International Conference on Information Technology, Information Systems and Electrical Engineering: Applying Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Global Challenges During Pandemic Era, ICITISEE 2021, 326–331.
• Noordin, N. A., Hussainey, K., & Hayek, A. F. (2022). The use of artificial intelligence and audit quality: an analysis from the perspectives of external auditors in the UAE. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(8).
• Nogueira, J., Ribeiro, D., & Marques, R. P. (2024). Factors influencing statutory auditors’ perception of the role of artificial intelligence in auditing. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 990 LNNS, 306– 316.
• Omoteso, K. (2012). The application of artificial intelligence in auditing: looking back to the future. Expert Systems with Applications, 39(9), 8490–8495.
• Puthukulam, G., Ravikumar, A., Sharma, R. V. K., & Meesaala, K. M. (2021). Auditors' perception on the impact of artificial intelligence on professional skepticism and judgment in oman. Universal Journal of Accounting and Finance, 9(5), 1184–1190.
• Raschke, R. L., Saiewitz, A., Kachroo, P., & Lennard, J. B. (2018). Ai-enhanced audit inquiry: a research note. Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, 15(2), 111–116.
• Rawashdeh, A., Bakhit, M., & Al-Okdeh, S. (2023). The mediating role of control risk in the relationship between technological factors and ai-based predictive analytics adoption: evidence from audit firms In The US. 2nd International Conference on Business Analytics for Technology and Security, ICBATS 2023.
• Rikhardsson, P., Thórisson, K. R., Bergthorsson, G., & Batt, C. (2022). Artificial intelligence and auditing in small- and medium-sized firms: expectations and applications. AI Magazine, 43(3), 323– 336.
• Rodrigues, L., Pereira, J., da Silva, A. F., & Ribeiro, H. (2023). The impact of artificial intelligence on audit profession. Journal of Information Systems Engineering and Management.
• Saatchi, S. G., Sharairi, J. A., Sarram, M., Rahahle, M. Y., Anagreh, S., Haija, A. A. A., Maabreh, H. M. A., Alrfai, M. M., Al-Hawary, S. I. S., & Mohammad, A. A. S. (2024). Industry 4.0 era: The role of robotic process automation in internal auditing quality of banking sector in Jordan. Studies in Computational Intelligence, 1151, 73–91.
• Sethy, A., Shaik, N., Yadavalli, P. K., & Anandaraj, S. P. (2023). AI: Issues, concerns, and ethical considerations. In Toward Artificial General Intelligence: Deep Learning, Neural Networks, Generative AI (pp. 189–211).
• Seethamraju, R., & Hecimovic, A. (2020). Impact of artificial intelligence on auditing - an exploratory study. 26th Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2020.
• Seethamraju, R., & Hecimovic, A. (2023). Adoption of artificial intelligence in auditing: an exploratory study. Australian Journal of Management. https://journals.sagepub.com/.
• Sulistyowati, S., Kartika, I., & Setijawan, I. (2021). Bridging the semantic gap in continuous auditing knowledge representation. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, 278, 544–554.
• Thottoli, M. M. (2024). Leveraging information communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance auditing practices. Accounting Research Journal, 37(2), 134–150.
• Üçoğlu, D. (2022). Artificial intelligence and auditing: benefits and risks. In Revolutionizing Business Practices Through Artificial Intelligence and Data-Rich Environments (pp. 162–187).
• Vitali, S., & Giuliani, M. (2024). Emerging digital technologies and auditing firms: Opportunities and challenges. International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, 53.