CPA Tech Blog

04/16/2026

Why Some Companies Say AI ‘Tokenmaxxing’ Is Key to Survival - The Wall Street Journal

Leaderboards that rank individual employees’ AI token usage have garnered recent criticism. But some say they’re vital for adapting to the AI age.

04/09/2026

This week is ATL episode 253 - the 2026 CPA Practice Advisor Thought Leader Symposium. The podcast goes live at noon ET tomorrow on YouTube (https://youtu.be/Y-D-mg0cJ3g?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social) or from the CPAPA website at https://cpapracticeadvisor.com/podcasts?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social. You can preview what Brian and Randy will discuss at the CPA Tech Wiki article for the episode at https://wiki.cpate.ch/index.php/ATL253?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social.

ATL252: 2026 CPA Practice Advisor Thought Leader SymposiumThis episode of the Accounting Technology Lab delivers a behind-the-scenes look at the 2026 CPA Pra...

04/03/2026

Two AI-generated graphics for my CPE materials- the first one is a representation of AI Hallucinations, and the second is a visualization of prompt engineering.

03/25/2026

Our friends at the Federal Communications Commission have decided to ban ALL new foreign-made consumer grade routers (like the ones in your home). Here's a summary from WIRED that explains what you need to know.

https://www.wired.com/story/us-government-foreign-made-router-ban-explained/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social&utm_campaign=routerban

The FCC just banned the sale of new consumer-grade Wi-Fi routers manufactured outside the US. Here’s what it means for you.

03/21/2026

Sometimes the dogs refuse to let us sleep in, and sometimes they swarm us to tell us it’s time to get up. They are a blessing.

02/14/2026

Episode 245 – The Future of AI and Agents in Accounting (Stephen Edgington, Dext)
Accounting Technology Lab (ATL) with hosts Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley featuring Stephen Edgington (Chief Product & Technology Officer, Dext).

This Episode: https://cpate.ch/245

YouTube Channel: https://cpate.ch/youtube
Episode Wiki: https://cpate.ch/atlwiki?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social

Episode Summary (200 words)
In ATL 245, Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley welcome Stephen Edgington, Chief Product and Technology Officer at Dext, for a forward-looking conversation on AI, small language models, agents, and the future of accounting automation. Edgington shares how Dext has evolved from OCR-based document capture into a sophisticated AI platform processing over 353 million documents annually with 99% accuracy.

The discussion explores how Dext leverages specialized small language models rather than massive generalist AI models to ensure precision in document extraction and classification. Edgington introduces Dext Assist, an AI-driven evolution of supplier rules that learns from 12 months of bookkeeping edits to identify subconscious accounting patterns and automate complex client-specific logic.

The episode also dives deep into Model Context Protocol (MCP), AI agents, API strategy, and the emerging agentic world of connected systems. Edgington compares MCP to Bluetooth—powerful but requiring iteration—and emphasizes that the next evolution of accounting technology is about integration, iteration, and human oversight.

The central message: AI will not replace accountants—but accountants using AI will outperform those who do not.

Catchy Quotes (with timestamps)
“We processed about 353 million documents last year… and over 1.5 million in a single day.” (2:42)
“The hardest field we have to predict is the supplier… because it’s not what’s on the document. It’s what you want it to be.” (7:15)
“Dext Assist looks at 12 months of your edits and finds the subconscious rules you didn’t even know you were applying.” (14:40)
“MCP isn’t USB. It’s more like Bluetooth — powerful, but sometimes finicky.” (23:30)
“If you’re not using AI, the person competing against you who is… will simply be able to do more.” (38:10)
“This is the first technology we’ve ever had that can teach you how to use it by asking it questions.” (41:00)

02/03/2026

Notepad++ supply chain attack https://hackingpassion.com/notepad-plus-plus-supply-chain-attack/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPuNotleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEemWp9ezFthka65FZGE5fAwEOR8oXS4a9xXCaxm1XkEK4QSfIhUZAyTbSgedE_aem_iXmzs4oy1bVxOjRjN3Rmfg

For six months, Notepad++ delivered malware instead of updates. Millions downloaded the infected version. This is how the attack worked and what to check on your systems.

01/25/2026

On board my flight this morning from . The predicted 30” “snowpocalypse” hadn’t arrived as of yet this morning, so my flight is one of the very few not cancelled. Thankful for this trip to summit- looking forward to seeing many old friends and making many new ones as well.

01/16/2026

The first of three episodes on what we saw at came out today -

In ATL241, hosts Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley deliver an in-depth overview of CES 2026, sharing observations from their 15th year attending the show together. This year’s CES reflected a noticeable shift toward consumer-focused innovation, with fewer traditional enterprise vendors and a more subdued presence from long-standing technology anchors like Sony, Samsung, Intel, and AMD. Tariffs, supply chain constraints, and intellectual property concerns appeared to temper the scale and boldness of product launches.

Two dominant themes defined the show: AI everywhere and robots for everything. Artificial intelligence was embedded into nearly every category—sometimes thoughtfully, sometimes questionably—from robotic cookers and pet accessories to TVs and health monitoring systems. Robotics spanned lawn care, pool cleaning, mobility aids, exoskeletons, and experimental personal transportation concepts.

The hosts noted a decline in startup viability and a less inspiring Innovation Awards area, with fewer “wow” moments than in prior years. However, standout developments included advanced health assessment kiosks, art-focused TVs with striking realism, and growing momentum around AI at the edge, driven by privacy, legal, and professional-use constraints.

Overall, CES 2026 felt evolutionary rather than revolutionary—but it still provided valuable insight into the future direction of consumer technology, AI deployment, and infrastructure design.

Episode at CPAPA: https://cpate.ch/cpapa-atl240?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social
Wiki: https://cpate.ch/ATL241w?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social
YouTube: https://cpate.ch/ATL241yt?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=Zoho+Social

Randy Johnston and Brian F. Tankersley deliver an in-depth overview of CES 2026, sharing observations from their 15th year attending the show together. The Accounting Tech Lab is an ongoing series that explores the intersection of public accounting and technology.

01/09/2026

Seen today at …..

01/09/2026

In today's episode of Accounting Technology Lab (ATL 240) for CPA Practice Advisor , hosts Randy Johnston and Brian Tankersley welcome Nick Chandly, Founder and CEO of Forwardly, to discuss the evolution of accounts receivable and accounts payable automation for U.S. businesses. Chandly explains how Forwardly was architected from day one around AI, APIs, and automation to solve persistent cash flow, payment delays, and fraud risks. The conversation explores AI-driven invoice capture, automated approvals, real-time payments via FedNow, vendor management, and fraud prevention. Chandly emphasizes how eliminating manual bill pay processes allows accountants to focus more on advisory services and higher-value client work.

Tune in for the premier on YouTube at noon ET at https://cpate.ch/ATL240

01/06/2026

Pleased to be at with for the fifteenth year. Looking forward to learning about the latest tech and creating some very good content over the next few days.