Episode 162 - AI Adoption Is Accelerating—Are Firms Keeping Up? - The Woodard Report Podcast

On this episode of the Woodard Report podcast, Heather and Joe discuss new research on global AI adoption and what it means for accounting firms, highlighting how early adopters are gaining strategic advantages while others risk falling behind. They explore recent funding surges in AI-powered accounting tools, practical considerations for implementing AI within firms, and the importance of governance, strategy, and financial independence in adapting to rapid technological change.

Current events —

• AICPA CIMA Survey Shows Growing AI Adoption Gap
• Basis is the first stand alone AI enablement platform to reach unicorn status

TV/Movie quote of the week —

• Blue Moon
• Billions

Excellent things we learned —

• Copilot allows you to switch between all OpenAI and Anthropic models
• The average American adult watches 3 hours and 43 minutes of television every day

Member spotlight —

• Lisa Crawford, Owner of Crawford Financial Solutions

The Woodard Report article of the week —

• Explore the AI Track at Scaling New Heights 2026

Thank you to our show sponsor, Puzzle! Puzzle, the next generation firm, AI-powered, human-led. Puzzle replaces manual quickbooks workflows with AI-driven books built for review, approval, and audit-ready accountability. Learn more at puzzle.io.

Learn more about the show and our sponsors at Woodard.com/podcast