The Audit Podcast

Episode: IA on AI – Building Apps and Workflow with Copilot
Host: Trent Russell
Date: November 6, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Audit Podcast, hosted by Trent Russell, focuses on the latest developments in artificial intelligence and how these technologies intersect with the work of internal auditors. Trent reviews headlines on AI-driven workforce changes and spotlights Microsoft’s Copilot feature for building apps and workflows, exploring both the practical possibilities and the risk implications for audit professionals.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. AI and Workforce Changes: Hype vs. Reality

• Trent opens by referencing an AI-focused newsletter, Superhuman, to discuss media headlines about major corporate layoffs attributed to AI.
• He cites Amazon's layoff of 14,000 corporate jobs and Chegg’s workforce reduction by 45%, both citing “new realities posed by AI” (00:50).
• However, he cautions against overreacting to such news, noting expert insights suggesting deeper economic factors are also at play:
  • Quote: “There’s a real tendency to overreact to individual company announcements because everyone is so freaked out about AI.”
    — Martha Gimble, Yale’s Budget Lab (01:36)
• Yale’s Budget Lab highlights that many affected companies expanded aggressively during the pandemic when interest rates were low and are now shrinking due to higher borrowing costs, not solely because of AI.
• According to Indeed’s AI at Work Report 2025, AI is currently able to replace only about 0.7% of nearly 3,000 job skills catalogued—suggesting the true impact on jobs is more nuanced (03:00).

2. AI Literacy for Audit Professionals

• Trent emphasizes staying “atop their AI literacy” as some jobs and tasks will continue to evolve due to AI, even if the overall narrative is more balanced (03:25).
• He encourages audit professionals to maintain awareness of AI advances to avoid falling behind.

3. Microsoft Copilot for Building Apps & Workflows

• The episode pivots to product news: Microsoft 365 Copilot now enables users to “build apps and workflows” through natural language commands (03:45).
• Trent suggests this is a watershed moment for internal auditors aiming to streamline or automate tasks within their organizations:
  • Quote: “Basically, you have Copilot and you can talk to it, and it’ll build an app for you. It’ll also build workflows for you.” (04:00)
• He encourages listeners to proactively experiment with Copilot:
  • Quote: “Block off an hour at some point this week, next week, whenever you can find it. Block off an hour, jump in there and just play with it and see what it’s like. See where you might be able to utilize it.” (04:20)
• Suggestions include using existing use cases and analytics backlogs as testing grounds for the new functionality.

4. Risk Considerations for DIY Automation

• Trent draws a parallel between user-developed Excel controls and this new breed of user-built apps:
  • Quote: “On the risk side, this is really no different than people using Excel.” (05:00)
• He reminds auditors that individually built apps, especially when used as part of internal controls or workflow automation, may introduce new risk and complexity.
  • Quote: “How are we going to audit these individual apps that someone might develop to execute on a specific part of their control, or a workflow even?” (05:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Martha Gimble (Yale’s Budget Lab, quoted by Trent):
  “There’s a real tendency to overreact to individual company announcements because everyone is so freaked out about AI.” (01:36)

• Trent Russell (on Copilot):
  “Basically you have Copilot and you can talk to it, and it'll build an app for you. It’ll also build workflows for you.” (04:00)

• Trent Russell (on practical use):
  “Block off an hour… just play with it and see what it’s like. See where you might be able to utilize it.” (04:20)

• Trent Russell (on risk):
  “On the risk side, this is really no different than people using Excel.” (05:00)
  “How are we going to audit these individual apps that someone might develop to execute on a specific part of their control, or a workflow even?” (05:20)

Key Timestamps

• 00:50 – Layoffs at Amazon and Chegg attributed to AI
• 01:36 – Market overreacting to AI-driven layoff narratives; Martha Gimble’s quote
• 03:00 – Only 0.7% of job skills at risk of replacement according to Indeed’s AI at Work Report 2025
• 03:25 – Encouragement to stay “atop AI literacy”
• 03:45 – Microsoft Copilot enables app and workflow building
• 04:00 – Copilot functionality explained
• 04:20 – Actionable advice: experimentation with Copilot
• 05:00 – Risk analogy with Excel; new risks for internal controls
• 05:20 – Challenge for auditors: auditing user-built apps and workflows

Summary Takeaway

Trent Russell provides a clear-eyed look at AI’s real impact on jobs and internal audit functions—debunking alarmist headlines while urging professionals to develop their AI skills and experiment with new tools like Microsoft Copilot. He positions Copilot as a powerful opportunity for quick wins in automation, but also flags the emerging risks with user-built automations, making a compelling case for ongoing vigilance and adaptation within audit teams.