Stop searching, start solving: Master the 'Great Eight' AI tools to automate complex research in minutes, not weeks.
This course, developed entirely from scratch using the latest generation of AI research applications, provides a concise overview of how modern AI tools—especially ChatGPT and complementary research platforms—are transforming the way accountants conduct complex research, interpret regulations, and generate decision-ready insights. Participants will explore how AI-driven research systems move beyond traditional search by synthesizing multiple sources, structuring complex information, and producing actionable deliverables in minutes rather than hours.
The course introduces a layered AI research ecosystem that includes ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, NotebookLM, and other frontier tools, showing how each platform contributes distinct analytical strengths. Learners will also examine advanced techniques such as persona-driven prompting, deep research workflows, scheduled AI intelligence monitoring, and document-grounded analysis. By the end of the session, participants will understand how to build their own “AI research bench”—a coordinated set of digital assistants that function as on-call subject-matter experts. These capabilities enable accountants to accelerate regulatory analysis, policy interpretation, client research, and strategic decision support while maintaining professional judgment and oversight.
Topics Covered:
AI search vs. traditional search engines for professional research
The “Great Eight” AI platforms for accounting research
Persona-driven prompting and expert simulation techniques
Building on-call AI subject-matter experts (SME frameworks)
Deep research workflows using frontier AI models
Automating regulatory monitoring with scheduled AI tasks
Document-grounded research using NotebookLM and similar tools
Target Audience:
This course is designed for accountants, auditors, consultants, and financial professionals who want to dramatically improve the speed, depth, and quality of their research using advanced AI tools.
MA, CMC, CITP/FITP
GARRETT WASNY, MA, CMC, CITP/FITP, is an artificial intelligence (AI) skills advisor to accountants, tax attorneys, enrolled agents, and tax preparers worldwide. His courses focus on the new intersection of accounting and technology, and provide guidance to practitioners on how to prosper in this dynamic age. His sessions demystify emerging cloud, mobile, and social applications, and explain in plain language how financial professionals can use these online tools to build trust, solve problems, and create new value. He’s also an award-winning Internet speaker, author, app developer, professional development specialist, and former management consultant for Price Waterhouse. He's published 50+ ebooks on computing and ethical issues related to accounting, written hundreds of articles and columns on Internet strategy, and delivered thousands of seminars and webinars to CPAs and accounting organizations around the globe.
This portal is provided as a training and development resource for City of Markham employees. Every course is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, is quantifiable in hours, and is verifiable — you receive a documented certificate of completion for every course you finish, stored on LearnFormula indefinitely.
If you hold a professional designation (for example in engineering, accounting, human resources, or law), courses may be counted as professionally relevant, verifiable learning activities toward your continuing professional development. Individual practitioners are responsible for confirming that an activity meets the requirements of their professional body. For questions about the City of Markham's training and development policies, please speak with your people leader or Human Resources.
