You can also attend virtually via the following Zoom link: https://gatech.zoom.us/j/95421118025

An overview of the dissertation is included below. Copies will be made available upon request.

Charles (Charley) Irons, CPA

Accounting PhD Candidate

Georgia Institute of Technology | Scheller College of Business

Area: Accounting

Committee Members: Drs. Robbie Moon (Chair), Justin Blann, Eric Condie, Jonathan Shipman (University of Arkansas), and Teri Yohn (Emory University)

Title: The Influence of AI-like Text on Responses to Disclosure: Evidence from AI Detection Models

Dissertation Overview:

The rise of ChatGPT and other generative AI models has revolutionized machine-generated text. One potential application of this technology is helping craft firms’ narrative disclosures. Using two highly rated, commercially available AI detection models, I create novel measures of AI-like text in disclosure based on AI detection models’ classification that the text was generated either wholly or partly by AI. Using these measures, I study changes in disclosure surrounding the release of ChatGPT-4.0 in early 2023 and document a significant increase in the incidence of AI-like text in earnings conference call prepared remarks but not in managers’ responses to questions. Further evidence suggests that AI-like text in disclosure is more common among smaller, younger firms, and, on average, exhibits more positive tone, less uncertainty, and more forward-looking statements than non-AI-like disclosure text. I then compare the market responses to linguistic measures from AI-like disclosure text and non-AI-like disclosure text. Contrary to other studies that find generative AI text to be of higher quality and more persuasive than human text, my evidence suggests that tone in non-AI-like disclosure text is more strongly associated with returns. Overall, my results suggest that AI-like text may mute responses to information in disclosure.