My AI Intern Experience with GAAP Dynamics – Henry Walworth
Recognizing the rapid development of artificial intelligence as a driving force of modern business, GAAP Dynamics’s CEO, Mike Walworth, wanted to explore how to integrate AI into his company. After years of wanting to work for my uncle Mike, he finally brought me in as his AI tsar. My role was to identify AI solutions to address the office’s pain points and workflows, aiming to boost efficiency and create value. I also developed client-facing materials showing the advantages of AI, mindful of the justified skepticism that still surrounds the technology. Though I had little previous experience with artificial intelligence, I was eager to learn.
My main project was a whitepaper for GAAP D’s leadership. This paper summarized interviews and workplace observations, and culminated in recommendations for implementing AI to improve efficiency and client deliverables. I conducted qualitative interviews across departments to understand each role’s workflows, challenges, and decision-making processes. These discussions revealed where AI could be integrated through automation, data analysis, or content generation. The process also gave me my first look at the career paths in a traditional office. Learning each role’s responsibilities allowed me to make targeted AI recommendations, which I presented to the company at the end of my internship as a proposal for responsible, effective AI adoption.
Early on, I tackled a project to extract insights from PCAOB inspections. In April, PCAOB released inspection findings dating back to 2018—tens of thousands of cells across three Excel files. Reading through it all wasn’t realistic, so Mike suggested having AI handle the analysis. I compiled the files into a single master and uploaded it to ChatGPT, but the dataset was too large for the free version. After upgrading to Plus, I got ChatGPT to produce a report of the top ten actionable insights, refining the output through hundreds of prompts to get exactly what I wanted. Realizing this process would be too time-consuming to repeat, I built a custom GPT that could instantly generate the same type of report from any new dataset using my saved instructions. I sent the draft to Mike, who added GAAP D’s own commentary to the AI’s findings.
I also built an Articulate Rise course on IRS worker classification regulations. While the course still took hours to design and edit, AI dramatically sped up the research process. Since I’m not an IRS expert, I instructed ChatGPT to source exclusively from the IRS website and related government pages. I verified all citations for accuracy, then adapted the content to GAAP D’s conversational style and customized examples to fit the course theme.
To introduce the course, I created a video in Vyond, GAAP Dynamics’ preferred video animation platform. Deciding on a Greek pantheon theme, I wrote a script full of metaphors and puns: Zeus enlists his nephew Percy Jackson to organize Olympus’ paperwork with AI, but is unsure whether Percy is an employee or an independent contractor until Athena clarifies the “ancient” IRS rules. Mike and I recorded the voice acting, with me as Percy and him as both Zeus and Athena. Then I built the characters, backgrounds, and animations in Vyond, using camera tracking and scene design to make it visually engaging.
My time at GAAP Dynamics enabled me to explore AI applications to a business setting in a meaningful, hands-on way. Through automating complex audit data analysis with custom GPTs, creating client-facing training content, and conducting firmwide interviews I gained an understanding of AI’s capabilities and limitations. Beyond this, my experience gave me exposure to workplace responsibilities, problem solving, and technical skills that will aid me in the future.
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Disclaimer
This post is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as official accounting guidance. While we’ve ensured accuracy as of the publishing date, standards evolve. Please consult a professional for specific advice.
