Adoption of Artificial Intelligence Accounting Systems in Bangladeshi Accounting Firms: TOE Framework and Country-Specific Variables

Digitalization in Bangladesh is currently a serious priority with the blessings of artificial intelligence (AI). The primary objective of this research is to identify the key factors that influence the accounting professionals’ intention to utilize AI accounting systems in the accounting firms of Bangladesh. This study adds a novel aspect to the literature by employing the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework to analyze the organizational, technological, and environmental aspects of implementing AI accounting tools while incorporating the country-specific issues pertaining to security and trust. This differs from most of the earlier studies that used the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), theory of planned behavior (TPB), and technology acceptance model (TAM). A survey of 125 Bangladeshi accounting professionals was conducted to collect the primary data. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the hypotheses of the study. The findings demonstrate that all the predictors, namely relative advantage, trust, security, monetary resources, and rivalry pressure, have a positive effect on Bangladeshi accounting professionals' intention to use AI accounting systems. The study further reveals that security and trust factors play a critical role in influencing AI adoption decisions among accounting firms in Bangladesh, whereas relative advantage, rivalry pressure, and monetary resources were found to have no significant effect.