Agenda

2025 agenda to be announced...

09.05 - 09.10: Chair’s opening remarks

FStech Editor and conference chair Jonathan Easton welcomes delegates to The Future of AI in Financial Services 2024, providing key information about the agenda, venue and running order for the day.

09.10 – 09.40: Keynote session – Transforming Customer Support: Kroo Bank's experience with Generative AI
Alexey Gabsatarov, CTO, Kroo Bank

Discover how Kroo Bank transformed its customer support through the implementation of a generative AI chatbot. This presentation will detail the real-world experience of the bank, from identifying the need for AI-driven support to the successful deployment of the chatbot. We will explore the impact on customer interactions, the training and adjustment period. The session will also discuss the ongoing management of the AI system and its continuous improvement to meet evolving customer and bank needs

09.40 – 10.10: Navigating the AI landscape in financial services: Trends, strategies, and challenges
Dr. Richard L. Harmon, Vice President, Financial Services, Red Hat

In this presentation, Richard Harmon, Global Head of Financial Services at Red Hat, will explore AI adoption in the financial sector, focusing on key trends from predictive analytics to generative AI. He'll address challenges like regulatory compliance, data quality issues, and integration with legacy systems, while examining how firms develop comprehensive AI strategies, particularly using Open Source tools. The session will cover critical aspects of successful AI deployment, including data readiness, balancing innovation with ethics and compliance, measuring AI performance, and the intersection of AI and sustainability. Richard will also discuss building a culture that understands AI opportunities and risks, and leveraging partnerships to enhance AI capabilities. Drawing on his extensive industry experience, Richard will provide insights into developing effective AI strategies and overcoming implementation challenges in financial services.

10.10 – 10.50: Panel Discussion - The future is now: A deep dive into the current use cases of Generative AI in financial services - Sponsored by Domino Data Lab
Panellists:
Andrew Beal, Chief Architect, Markerstudy
Kjell Carlsson, Head of Data Science Strategy and Evangelism, Domino Data Lab
Pierre Legrand, Managing Director, Financial Services – Digital, Alvarez & Marsal
Polly Tsang, Senior Financial Services Regulatory Manager, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)

This panel will explore the cutting-edge applications of generative AI (genAI) currently being implemented by industry leaders in financial services. Our experts will examine how genAI is revolutionising areas such as personalised financial advice, risk assessment, and customer service. They'll discuss the potential for genAI to create tailored financial products, automate complex reporting processes, and enhance fraud detection. The panel will also address the challenges firms face in adopting this technology, including ethical considerations, data privacy concerns, and the need for robust governance frameworks. By showcasing real-world examples and future possibilities, this session aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of genAI's transformative potential in finance.

10.50 – 11.30: Coffee break

11.30 – 12.00: Leveraging Large Language Models and Generative AI in Financial Services
Amine El Badaoui, Senior Manager, Product-EMEA, Rackspace Technology

Large Language Models and generative AI are already having a transformative effect on the financial sector. In this presentation, Amine Badaoui, Senior Manager, Product-EMEA at Rackspace will examine how these technologies are reshaping banking, insurance, and investment management, offering new possibilities for customer service, risk assessment, and financial planning. Amine will evaluate the strategic advantages of AI adoption, including operational efficiencies and enhanced decision-making capabilities, while also addressing implementation strategies, potential challenges, and ethical considerations. Within his presentation, Amine will also discuss the benefits of Rackspace Private Cloud AI and the company’s global service delivery framework FAIR™ (Foundry for AI by Rackspace), which enables financial institutions to seamlessly integrate AI into their business. By looking at current trends and future projections, this presentation aims to provide a comprehensive overview of AI's role in shaping the future of financial services.

12:00 – 12.40: Panel – The duality of AI: How the technology is helping fight FinCrime and bolstering the criminals, sponsored by NICE Actimize
Panellists:
Rajitha Prabhakaran, Group Financial Crime Officer, Domestic & General Insurance
Liron Reitman, Director of AI Product, NICE Actimize
Jasmeet Narang, Chief Technology Officer and Director of Financial Crime, Santander
Rajnish Kumar, Head of Investment Tech and AI, AllianzGI

This panel discussion will look at how AI is helping financial services providers tackle increasingly sophisticated FinCrime and fraud, whilst also exploring some of the challenges driven by criminals exploiting the technology. The session will delve into specific AI applications in fraud detection, anti-money laundering, and identity verification, highlighting real-world case studies of successful implementations. Panellists will also examine the dark side of AI, discussing how criminals are leveraging machine learning and other AI technologies to create more convincing scams, automate money laundering processes, and develop advanced evasion techniques. The discussion will explore the ongoing arms race between financial institutions and cybercriminals, and how AI is constantly shifting the battlefield. This session will look to identify how firms can stay one step ahead of the criminals, focusing on strategies such as continuous model improvement, cross-industry collaboration, and the integration of human expertise with AI capabilities.

12.40 – 13.40: Lunch break

13.40 – 14.10: Financial inclusion and advice in the AI era
Dr Ansgar Walther, Associate Professor of Finance, Imperial College Business School

The growing adoption of AI and machine learning in finance has broad implications for business and society. Prof. Ansgar Walther will discuss two themes relating to recent research: On one hand, more fine-tuned algorithmic decisions in retail markets like credit and insurance can generate cheaper and more efficient products, but have raised concurrent concerns about unfair discrimination against disadvantaged groups. We use large-scale administrative data to assess the associated costs and benefits in the context of the US mortgage market. On the other hand, high quality financial advice has traditionally been reserved for wealthy clients, and the development of scalable robo-advisors promises to improve financial inclusion. In collaboration with a major global provider of robo-advice, we study whether all aspects of financial advice can be automated, or whether human advice — combined with algorithmic ones — continues to provide a unique value-added.

14.10 – 14.40: Navigating the AI revolution in financial services: FStech in conversation with Sudeshna Sen
Sudeshna Sen, Data Product Portfolio Manager, Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

In this fireside discussion, leading AI strategist Sudeshna Sen will share her unique insights on the transformative role of artificial intelligence across the financial services landscape. Drawing upon her extensive experience delivering innovative technological solutions for a diverse client base, Sen will offer a candid exploration of the industry's divergent approaches to AI adoption. Attendees can expect a thought-provoking dialogue as the conversation delves into the ethical complexities surrounding the commercialisation of AI, highlighting the paramount challenges in striking a balance between technological progress and responsible implementation. Looking ahead, Sen will also provide a glimpse into the evolving regulatory framework, outlining the anticipated developments in AI standards set to shape the sector's future trajectory.  

14.40 – 15.20: Panel: AI and digital transformation: Reshaping financial services
Panellists:
Chris Waring, Head of Digital Customer Journeys, NatWest
Mauricio Toro, Principal Data Scientist, Cheddar
Anu Widyalankara, Director, Payments Strategy & Technology, EY
Stuart Taylor, Head of E-trading, MUFG EMEA
Matt Roberts, Head of Data Science & Analytics, ClearBank

Beyond targeted applications in risk, compliance, and ESG, AI is already proving to be a catalyst for broader digital transformation in financial services. Panellists will share their visions on how AI could reshape customer experiences, operations models, product innovation, and ecosystem collaboration in banking, capital markets, asset management, and insurance. The discussion will also cover cultural and talent challenges in driving AI adoption and sustainable approaches to innovation.

15.20 – 15.50: Keynote session – Innovation and Regulation with AI
Ed Towers, Head of RegTech & Advanced Analytics, FCA

AI has the potential to benefit consumers and markets and contribute to growth in the sector. In this keynote presentation, Ed Towers, Head of RegTech & Advanced Analytics, FCA, will discuss the organisation’s approach to innovation and AI as well as how AI is transforming regulation.

15.50 – 16.10: Chair’s closing remarks and The Future of AI in Financial Services 2024 quiz

FStech Editor and conference chair Jonathan Easton closes the conference, providing his thoughts on the day’s proceedings and crowns the winner of The Future of AI in Financial Services 2024 quiz.

16.10 - 17.10: Networking drinks reception.