“It’s about making connections through the data that you might not have made as a human being. AI has the uncanny ability to tease out things about the consumer you might never think about.”

—Ryan Bezenek, Vice President of IT at Ariat International

AI Takes on Tax Season

If there’s one thing more universally dreaded than a dentist appointment, it’s filing taxes. For many, it feels like assembling IKEA furniture in the dark. But AI might just be the flashlight we’ve all been waiting for.

Right now, the U.S. tax system is a maze of complexity. The IRS estimates the “tax gap”—the difference between what’s owed and what’s actually collected—is costing . And while that gap isn’t just due to fraud (a lot comes down to innocent errors), AI could play a major role in closing it.

How AI Helps the Taxman

AI excels at pattern recognition, data analysis, and making sense of messy, inconsistent information. The IRS is already using AI for things like flagging questionable returns and automating parts of audits. But that’s just the beginning.

AI tools can digest massive volumes of tax data to spot inconsistencies that would take human auditors months (or never) to find. AI doesn’t get tired, it doesn’t miss red flags buried in forms, and it can handle bulk tasks like verifying income reports or detecting underreported gains with frightening efficiency.

This is good news not just for Uncle Sam, but for honest taxpayers, too. Because the more AI helps the IRS catch gaps and fraud early, the less likely it is that everyone else will be footing the bill.

How AI Helps the Taxpayer

AI-powered tax prep software is already making filing less painful for anywho who breaks into a sweat at the words “Schedule C.” Tools like TurboTax and H&R Block have been embedding AI to recommend deductions, double-check math, and streamline the whole ordeal.

Tax filing services are experimenting with AI chatbots that can answer complicated tax questions, help navigate confusing forms, and ensure you don’t miss out on credits and deductions. So instead of scouring the IRS website at midnight, you can get a near-instant answer from a well-trained AI assistant.

Looking forward, AI also promises to make personalized, proactive tax help a reality. Instead of just inputting your W-2s and hoping for the best, AI could guide you year-round—flagging potential deductions, alerting you to estimated payment deadlines, and even helping small business owners manage quarterly taxes more effectively.

The Bottom Line

Sadly, AI isn’t going to make taxes fun. Nothing has that kind of power. But used wisely, AI can make them a little less painful for taxpayers and tax collectors alike.

Canva Gets a Glow-Up

Canva recently rolled out a new set of AI features aimed at making design tasks more efficient, especially for users juggling multiple projects and quick turnarounds.

Spreadsheets That Look Good

Canva Sheets is the big new feature in this rollout—a spreadsheet tool with built-in design support. You can import your data and quickly turn it into polished visuals like charts and graphs, no design degree required. It’s a handy way to simplify sales tracking, team performance reporting, or any numbers you need to present to leadership (without pulling teeth).

Smarter Writing and Design Tools

Magic Write and Magic Design also got an upgrade. These tools now do a better job of helping users spin up draft content, whether it’s social posts, one-pagers, or campaign assets. Plug in your brand info or campaign goals, and Canva suggests layouts and messaging to get you started. It’s not a full-on creative replacement, but it’s a great head start when you’re short on time.

Cleaner Data Visuals

Canva’s data visualization tools are now more flexible, making it easier to turn messy numbers into clean, professional graphics. Whether it’s sales data or customer survey results, you’ll spend less time wrestling with formatting and more time sharing insights.

Crafting the perfect prompt doesn’t have to feel like trial and error. This week, we’re giving you a handy cheat sheet—five frameworks to build sharper, more specific prompts that actually get the results you want. Whether you’re brainstorming ad copy, coaching your team, or mapping out a customer journey, these frameworks give your AI prompts structure and purpose.

From "R-T-F" (Role, Task, Format) to "R-I-S-E" (Role, Input, Steps, Expectation), you’ll find quick formulas to write clearer, faster prompts. For example, instead of just saying "help me with ads," you can ask AI to act like a digital ad strategist, create a Facebook ad campaign, and deliver it as a storyboard.

We’ve got a handy-dandy cheat sheet below—save it, share it, and give it a try. You’ll be surprised how much better your AI outputs become with just a little more structure upfront.

AI Insights from the Inside

AI is moving fast, and the gap between hype and reality is getting wider. That’s why we’re bringing you the best in the biz to cut through the noise and get straight to what matters for your day-to-day.

At ASOTU CON, you’ll hear from experts like Scott Traylor, Danielle Mills Walden, Evan Driscoll, Tony Fowler, and more, as they share where AI is genuinely making a difference right now—and where it’s headed next.

Here’s a glimpse of what’s on the table:

• AI Sales Agents: Friend or Foe?
  Dig into how AI is reshaping customer interactions, what it gets right, and where the human touch still matters.

• Maximizing Profits with AI
  Practical ways to use AI tools to convert more shoppers, save time, and boost profits—without overcomplicating your workflow.

• One Customer, One Story
  See how unified data helps bridge marketing and sales, giving every customer a smoother experience and your team better insights.

The best way to keep up is together—join in the conversation at ASOTU CON.

• ChatGPT became the most downloaded app in the world last month. 📱

• For the first time ever, NVIDIA’s AI supercomputers will be made in the U.S. 🦅

• Compared to the general population, AI researchers are far more hopeful about AI’s potential to improve lives. 🤞