site.btaAI Is Opportunity to Enhance Transparency, Citizens’ Trust in Management of Public Resources, Iliana Ivanova Says

Addressing the international conference on “Artificial Intelligence and IT Audit in Safeguarding Public Resources”, held at the Grand Hotel Millennium Sofia on Monday, Bulgaria’s representative to the European Court of Auditors, Iliana Ivanova, said that the dynamics of technological development are transforming everything – the speed, volume, and nature of the information people work with. “This new reality requires us to rethink our approach to public finance control and to integrate innovative solutions that are both technologically effective and aligned with professional, ethical, and legal standards,” she explained.

The conference marked the 145th anniversary of the establishment and the 30th anniversary of the re-establishment of Bulgaria’s National Audit Office.

Ivanova said that artificial intelligence offers remarkable opportunities. It can optimize processes, assist in the analysis of vast amounts of data, and make audits faster, more precise, and more fact-based. However, she added that no matter how advanced it becomes, AI cannot fully replace the human factor. “Auditors possess something algorithms cannot replicate – expert judgment, critical thinking, and above all, ethics,” Ivanova emphasized.

“Artificial intelligence is not a threat, but an extraordinary opportunity to expand our capacity, enhance the efficiency of oversight, and strengthen transparency and citizens’ trust in the management of public resources,” she said. Ivanova urged for a measured and balanced step-by-step approach combining artificial and natural intelligence, algorithms and human critical thinking.