Artificial intelligence is transforming the workplace, and tools like ChatGPT are increasingly being turned to for everything from drafting emails to solving complex business challenges. But while large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are impressive in many ways, using them for payroll guidance is not just risky, it could cost you dearly.
Why ChatGPT is the wrong tool for payroll
Let's be clear. ChatGPT is not a payroll platform. It is not connected to Australian legislation, has no access to current award interpretations, and doesn't understand your business context or payroll system configuration. It provides generic, global answers based on training data, which may or may not be relevant, accurate, or current. That's not good enough in an environment where getting payroll wrong can mean six figure fines, public scrutiny, and irreparable brand damage.
As Tracy Angwin outlines in Profit from Payroll, payroll is one of the most complex and misunderstood functions in Australian business. It sits at the intersection of tax law, industrial relations, superannuation, and state based legislation. Compliance is non negotiable. The consequences of even accidental errors can be severe, and Fair Work does not accept ignorance as an excuse.
When ChatGPT gives the wrong answer (often called halloucinations), there's no accountability. There's no audit trail. And perhaps most importantly, there's no way for you to be sure it's right, until it's too late.
When the stakes are high, trust a specialisst payroll expert - meet Beryl
If you're looking for fast, accurate payroll answers you can trust, forget ChatGPT. You need Beryl, Australia's smartest payroll assistant, developed by Australian Payroll Association.
Beryl is purpose built for Australian payroll professionals, industries and employers. Unlike generalist tools, Beryl uses the full APA knowledge base, including:
Examples of the last 50,000 support tickets answered,
Legislation and award interpretations reviewed by payroll experts,
Bespoke research tools designed for Australian payroll contexts.
Whether you're unsure how to apply a complex termination payment, need help interpreting a modern award, or want to understand how to recover an overpayment based on your specific scenario, Beryl is built to give you a clear, reliable, and compliant answer, fast.
And unlike ChatGPT, Beryl is backed by APA, which means the information you receive is governed by real expertise, not guesswork.
Why Beryl belongs in your payroll toolkit
As payroll professionals, we know that precision matters. You wouldn't use a GP for brain surgery, and you shouldn't use a general purpose chatbot for something as complex and regulated as payroll. It simply isn't fit for purpose.
Beryl, however, is. Built from the ground up by Australia's leading payroll authority, she is your go to for trusted, compliant, and context specific payroll advice. And because Beryl learns from the questions payroll professionals are actually asking, she only gets smarter every day.
Ready to try Beryl?
Explore Beryl today and discover how much easier, faster, and safer your payroll decisions can be.
👉 More about Beryl
