Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming finance. From instant forecasts and visualizations to conversational insights—you can ask questions like, “Show me our last six months of cash burn and forecast year-end,” and get answers in seconds.
The AI Advantage in FP&A
- Large Language Models (LLMs) read, summarize, and interpret massive datasets.
- Auto-generated forecasts and scenario models.
- Dynamic visuals and dashboards produced on demand.
That said, CFOs should know exactly where your data is going.
Copyright Risks & Data Security
Many major AI platforms are under fire for copyright infringement. Hugh Stephens, in a May 2025 article, argues that discarding copyright principles to “compete with China” undermines the legal and cultural foundations of innovation. He calls for fair licensing, not IP theft (inforrm.org, hughstephensblog.net).
Meanwhile, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has suggested that copyright might need to be weakened in the name of societal progress—for financial innovation. But this poses serious risks:
- Could your sensitive financial data be used to train future models?
- Are proprietary insights, payroll data, or investor details at risk?
- How do these data flows intersect with governance, compliance, and auditability?
If you’re passing data to public AI vendors, these questions matter.
Why Custom Scripts Are Safer
AI excels when you don’t know the logic you need. But if your processes are structured—like “allocate marketing expense based on headcount” or “run intercompany eliminations”—custom scripts are better.
- They’re predictable.
- They’re auditable.
- They run inside your controlled environment.
PivotXL is currently the only FP&A platform that supports full custom scripting, enabling custom automations without exposing data to public AI platforms.
PivotXL’s AI Roadmap: Secure, Finance‑Ready, Intelligent
For organizations comfortable with public AI, PivotXL is building the next step:
Introducing PivotXL CustomGPT:
- Connect directly to your PivotXL database.
- Log in securely and ask questions in natural language: “What will our cash flow look like next quarter?”
- Generate visuals, reports, and insights in seconds—all while keeping your data inside your own system.
It offers the power of AI—with PivotXL’s guardrails around your sensitive financial data.
Summary: Making the Right Choice for Finance
| Scenario | Recommended Approach | Why PivotXL Stands Out |
|---|---|---|
| Known logic & repeatable process | Custom scripts | Safe, auditable, internal automation |
| Natural language analysis needed | AI-driven approach | Coming soon via PivotXL CustomGPT |
| Concern over data privacy | Custom scripting and secure platform | No need to expose data externally |
Bottom Line
- AI is powerful—but not risk-free when it comes to financial data.
- Custom scripts offer control, predictability, and transparency.
- PivotXL provides both: scripting automation now—and a secure, data‑safe AI assistant soon.
📩 Interested in learning more—or getting early access to CustomGPT? Reach out to us.
