The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has launched a research project with Lancaster University to look at the adoption and impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The research will add to the FRC’s collection of evidence on the use of AI in corporate reporting by public interest entities (PIEs) and help guide its approach to regulation and policymaking.

The research is gathering insights through in depth interviews with teams and individuals involved in the oversight and day-to-day production of annual reports and accounts, as well as sustainability reporting and other investor communication.

Alongside the in-depth interviews, the research has launched an anonymous online survey to gather baseline data from a representative sample of UK PIEs. It is this survey that ICAEW is calling on members who have prepared corporate reports in the past 12 months to get involved with.

The survey takes a maximum of 15 minutes and focuses on the availability and accessibility of corporate reporting technology within organisations, as well as practitioners’ experiences with AI. This includes looking at the use of generative AI in the production of external corporate reports by UK PIEs.

"This is an important opportunity for members to use their knowledge and experiences to shape guidance and ensure that policymaking is informed by the realities of modern-day corporate reporting," says Iain Wright, ICAEW's Chief Policy and Communications Officer.

"We encourage all members with the relevant experience to take part in this vital research which will provide vital insights into the adoption, benefits and barriers to emerging technology."