Avast ye, scallywags! Be ye tired o' payin' taxes? Fear not! H&R Block's novel AI chatbot be settin' sail to ease yer tax woes, arrr!
2024-01-29
Arrr! The beloved tax filin' vessel be unveilin' a newfangled contraption, aye, an AI matey to lend a hand in sailin' through treacherous tax seas. Prepare to be amazed, ye landlubbers!
In the language of a 17th century pirate, the article humorously discusses the increasing use of generative AI in various aspects of life. The author highlights that no software recipe is complete without a dollop of generative AI, which can now play games, write songs, and even be your girlfriend. The article introduces H&R Block's new AI Tax Assist, a generative AI tool powered by Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service, which leverages the tax giant's experience in tax prep and helps answer questions about U.S. and state tax laws.The article quotes Sarah Bird, the global lead for responsible AI at Microsoft, who sees AI as one of the defining technologies of our time. She emphasizes the importance of using AI responsibly and explains how Microsoft's Azure OpenAI Service ensures the highest quality training data and responsible AI implementation.
While H&R Block's AI Tax Assist can answer tax-related questions, it does not file or fill out forms. However, the article notes that there are concerns about the reliability of AI-generated answers, as the technology is known for hallucinations and inventing answers when it can't find the right one.
To address this issue, H&R Block emphasizes the importance of starting with reliable training data and staying up-to-date with changes in tax laws. The article mentions that the AI assistant provides reasonable prompts and information from H&R Block's data catalog, with live human CPAs available for further assistance.
Privacy is also a key concern, and H&R Block ensures that the AI assistant won't remember personal information or benefit others from the data shared. The article concludes with a humorous remark about the AI assistant's inability to help with deducting holiday pounds from the waistline.