{
  "id": 8095016,
  "title": "AI agents erase the paper trail, reshaping audit assurance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/ai-agents-erase-the-paper-trail-reshaping-audit-assurance",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-17T20:22:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SiliconANGLE",
    "slug": "siliconangle",
    "url": "https://siliconangle.com/2026/09/17/netsuite-ai-agents-new-audit-assurance-gap-amplify/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Enterprise audit teams are discovering that the evidence they relied on is disappearing in the face of AI agents. Data remains in platforms like NetSuite, HR systems, and data lakes, but decisions once documented in emails, Slack messages, and tick marks are now made by software working at speeds beyond human comprehension. This change is most impactful in regulated sectors, where AI governance has become a critical board-level issue rather than a mere compliance requirement. Josh Robinson, chief audit executive at Vast Space LLC, highlighted the challenge during an exclusive broadcast at Workiva's Amplify conference. \"With humans, we could see their judgment, their probability, and we had handwritten notes, tick marks, or email chains. Now, that evidence is gone,\" he said. Robinson emphasized that the risk lies in what auditors can no longer observe—what he calls the \"unknown.\" While the solution doesn't necessarily mean adopting new tools, it requires a renewed focus on internal audit principles such as completeness and accuracy. These standards can still be applied to evaluate the results of AI workflows. However, the bigger question is accountability. At Vast Space, which operates commercial space stations and carries significant regulatory risks, the responsibility remains with the individual signing off on the work, regardless of the tool used. \"As an audit leader, I need to know that the answer is right before I put my signature on it,\" Robinson explained. For audit teams to be effective, they must first ensure data is accessible and integrated across various systems. Workiva's AI agents, as part of its Knowledge intelligence layer, aim to bridge these silos, connecting platforms like NetSuite, HRIS, data lakes, and selected AI models. Robinson, a long-time Workiva customer since 2017, believes that this unified approach simplifies the process of addressing specific business problems.",
  "summary": "Enterprise audit teams are finding that the evidence trail they depend on does not survive contact with AI agents. Financial and operational data still sits across NetSuite, human resources platforms and data lakes, but the judgment calls once recorded in email threads, Slack messages and tick marks are increasingly made by software moving faster than […] The post AI agents erase the paper trail,…",
  "key_points": [
    "AI agents are making decisions beyond human comprehension, erasing paper trails",
    "Enterprise audit teams struggle with observing auditors' judgment and evidence",
    "Accountability remains with individuals signing off on AI workflows"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}