In the World of AI: Week of 13 October 2026, QuickBooks and MYOB Launch AI Tools

Accounting software was the main story of the week, with Intuit and MYOB both launching AI features for Australian customers within five days. Microsoft also changed how new Copilot licences will be sold, and Google widened its Gmail and Meet features. This is the week from 14 to 20 October 2026, with one step for each story.

1. QuickBooks brings Intuit Intelligence to Australia

iTWire reported on 15 October that Intuit announced on 14 October the international rollout of Intuit Intelligence, with Australia included. For business owners, it describes three features: Automations, which are recurring tasks described in plain language, Autonomous Invoicing, which creates, sends and chases invoices from customer documents, and Conversational Custom Reports, which produce forward-looking cash flow views from plain-English requests. The new features are in beta for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Online Advanced customers. Intuit says humans keep control of decisions that matter, and the report gives no Australian pricing.

Why it matters: Automated chasing of invoices touches your customer relationships and your cash flow. A beta feature that sends messages in your name deserves a careful start.

The report says availability across Intuit's accountant products varies by product and region, so your accountant may see different features from you.

This week: If you use QuickBooks Online, ask your bookkeeper which of these features are switched on for you, and keep a human approval step on anything sent to customers. The guide on human review for AI output sets out how.

2. MYOB launches Iris

IT Brief Australia reported on 19 October that MYOB launched Iris, an AI layer built into its existing software for customers in Australia and New Zealand. It has three parts. The first helps with everyday tasks, with initial uses including AI BAS data preparation, smart reconciliation and category suggestions. The second, AI Business Insights, flags opportunities, risks and suggested next steps from business data. The third, Ask Iris, is an embedded chat that answers questions about your data in plain language. CEO Paul Robson said it makes AI "an embedded part of the experience". The report gives no rollout dates or pricing.

Why it matters: Reconciliation and BAS preparation are time sinks, and AI that suggests categories can save hours. Wrong categories also flow into your tax figures, so review matters. This is general information, so ask your accountant or BAS agent about your own position.

MYOB describes the approach as AI woven into existing products, so you will meet it inside software you already use, with no separate tool to adopt.

This week: Ask MYOB or your bookkeeper when Iris reaches your plan, and decide in advance who checks AI-suggested categories before BAS time.

3. Microsoft changes how new Copilot licences are bought

Microsoft's Partner Center announcement of 14 October says that from 1 December 2026, new Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot Business offers can be purchased without a qualifying Microsoft 365 base subscription. The new offers are priced the same as the current ones. From 16 October the current offers carry "(add-on)" in their names, and they reach end of sale in the Cloud Solution Provider channel on 1 December. Microsoft says this affects how Copilot is purchased, not what it can do, and that existing subscriptions need no action or migration.

Why it matters: If you buy through a reseller or managed service provider, the product names on your quotes and invoices will change. Nothing about your current licences does.

This week: If you have a reseller, ask them to confirm your Copilot subscription is unaffected and what the renewal will look like.

4. Google adds AI features to Gmail and Meet

Google's Workspace Updates blog weekly recap of 16 October says Gmail AI Inbox, which highlights to-dos and summarises priority work updates, is expanding to paid Workspace users. Gmail Live, voice search over your inbox, is rolling out to paid Workspace customers on Android and iOS. Gemini skills in the Gemini app are rolling out, with completion expected by mid-November. Separately, the October posts include an item dated 19 October on Gemini posting meeting summaries, decisions and action items to a meeting's Google Chat space. The recap does not name which editions get which feature, so check the linked posts.

Why it matters: These tools read email and meeting content. For a business holding client information, that raises a privacy and policy question as well as a time-saving one.

This week: If you use Google Workspace, ask your administrator which of these features are on, and confirm they fit your rules about client information. See our answer on what an AI agent can do for a business for background on tools that act on your behalf.

What to do this week

• Ask your bookkeeper which QuickBooks AI features are on, and keep approval on customer messages.
• Decide who reviews AI-suggested categories and BAS data before lodgement.
• Ask your Microsoft reseller to confirm your Copilot subscription is unaffected.
• Ask your Workspace administrator which Gmail and Meet AI features are enabled.

Sources

• iTWire, "Intuit Intelligence lands in Australia as QuickBooks takes its AI agent fight to Xero and MYOB", 15 October 2026: itwire.com
• IT Brief Australia, "MYOB launches Iris AI layer for small business software", 19 October 2026: itbrief.com.au
• Microsoft Learn, "October 2026 announcements - Partner Center announcements" (item dated 14 October 2026): learn.microsoft.com
• Google Workspace Updates, "Weekly recap, 16 October 2026": workspaceupdates.googleblog.com
• Google Workspace Updates, October 2026 posts (item dated 19 October 2026): workspaceupdates.googleblog.com