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Issue 412 · Apr 20, 2023 Weekly edition · 6 min read

Generative AI & Intelligent Virtual Beings

Top tech giants, banks and fintech companies are using or integrating generative AI into their business models. AI is making headlines, because even if it offers many benefits, many concerns arise – also regarding AI

Generative AI is playing a major role in the revolution we’re living, but not all regions are equal.

April 20, 2023

Top tech giants, banks and fintech companies are using or integrating generative AI into their business models. AI is making headlines, because even if it offers many benefits, many concerns arise – also regarding AI ethics and the risks for humans. AI regulation is currently one of the most discussed topics: while the US, Africa, and Asia are developing and integrating AI fast, the European Union is discussing a law that might prevent the region from being competitive. In the meantime, Singapore is developing AI beings that could represent the next frontier in business. This and much more in this number of FinTech Weekly, the fintech newsletter to discover fintech news, events, companies and insights.

Google said to be building all-new search engine powered by AI
Google said to be building all-new search engine powered by AI
— via Evening Standard

The tech giant Google is planning to add AI – Artificial Intelligence – to its business model. As reported by the New York Times, the company is working on a new AI-based search engine able to predict what you’re looking for, basing its information on your previous searches and the moment when you began using the search engine.

EU’s new AI law could decimate generative AI on the continent, warn founders
EU’s new AI law could decimate generative AI on the continent, warn founders
— via Sifted

In the meantime in Europe, investors and business owners are concerned about the new proposed law to regulate generative AI. The AI Act is only a draft so far, but it already classifies different levels of risks in the use of generative AI, and the cases labeled as “unacceptable risk” – like the use of facial recognition – could be totally banned. Investors and business owners are concerned because this might mean that the European Union won’t be able to compete with the US and China, posing a serious risk to a regulated development of artificial intelligence.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses letter from Musk and other tech leaders calling for A.I. pause
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addresses letter from Musk and other tech leaders calling for A.I. pause
— via CNBC

As we discussed in our previous newsletters, top CEOs, researchers, and tech leaders recently signed an open letter where they ask to pause AI development, since it might threaten the future of the whole society. Sam Altman, CEO of the popular company OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) – addressed the topic, saying that he agrees on the need for guidelines, but assessing that the open letter wasn’t the best way to reach this goal.

Future Branches in Boston
Future Branches in Boston
— via WBR Event

What is your branch doing to exceed their expectations and meet the needs of other generations as well? Future Branches is two days of action-packed stories, conversations and connections with the top minds in retail banking. We will explore how leading financial institutions are revamping retail banking technology, retooling front line associates, and creating the branch and retail banking experience of the future. You’ll get actionable strategies to provide personalized high touch experiences for today’s customers. This is THE meeting place to benchmark against the best of the best in financial services.

Regulation is a 'necessary framework' for A.I.: Professor
— via Yahoo! Finance

Douglas Rushkoff, professor of Media Theory at the City University of New York (CUNY), addresses the generative AI topic and AI ethics by affirming that regulation is necessary for the correct development of artificial intelligence. Many tech experts and CEOs – including Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google – recently talked about how risky AI can be if not used properly. Rushkoff said that to properly regulate AI it is not necessary to change what artificial intelligence does, but to regulate how people use it.

Ethereum Founder Vitalik Buterin Sees Potential In ChatGPT And AI
— via Investing.com

Also the co-founder of Ethereum, Vitalik Buterin, showed his appreciation for ChatGPT, after asking the AI chatbot to prepare a script to compute the public transit time between two coordinates, and then asking the chatbot to deliver more data and reference resources. The element most appreciated by Buterin is the capability of ChatGPT to shorten the distance between professional users and amateurs, thus eliminating entry barriers.

Web3-Focused AI Platform Mindverse Readies Global Beta Launch
— via NFT Plazas

AI NFTs might be the next frontier in business. The Singapore-based generative AI firm Mindverse is launching a product, in its Beta version, that will allow people to train AI beings with industry-specific knowledge, in order to turn them into business helpers – for what concerns sales and delivery of products and services. The firm was able to mix the benefits of AI and blockchain technology: these intelligent beings can be used as NFT avatars, so users will be able to deploy them in different Metaverses.

Japan's top banks tap AI chatbots to lighten workload
— via Nikkei Asia

The same is happening in the banking industry. Asia is for sure benefiting from the different benefits provided by generative AI: in Japan, three huge financial groups are including AI chatbots to carry out internal tasks, create reports and better assist clients.

Goldman Sachs CIO suggests bank could train its own ‘ChatGS’ A.I. chatbot
— via Yahoo! Finance

Also Goldman Sachs could start using this technology, but the top bank is maybe going to train its own AI chatbot: this was suggested by Goldman Sachs CIO, Marco Argenti, in an email to the engineering staff – which constitutes a huge part of the workforce of the bank.

Kredete Launches AI-Powered Lending Platform to Deepen Credit Access for Nigerians
— via TechCabal

The African fintech Kredete launched its AI-based lending platform on April 16th, during an event held in Victoria Island. The new platform will also deepen the accessibility to different financial solutions, education and credit.

How OpenAI’s ChatGPT is Revolutionizing FinTech Industry?
— via Analytics Insight

OpenAI and ChatGPT are also revolutionizing the fintech space. Fintech companies can use the AI chatbot especially to improve consumers’ experience. Moreover, the AI tool can help to manage everyday tasks and give people more direct answers.

Banking Reinvented: How Advanced Generative AI Models Are Shaping the Industry
— via FinTech Weekly

To get back to our discussion on how financial groups and banks are benefiting from generative AI, FinTech Weekly describes how this revolution is already taking place.

Jobs

Cloud Engineer - Focus AWS Cloud, Linux and Network (m/f/d)
Cloud Engineer - Focus AWS Cloud, Linux and Network (m/f/d)
— via auxmoney

As a Cloud Engineer (m/f/d) with a focus on Linux, network and AWS Cloud, you will be a permanent team member of our admin team at auxmoney.

Solutions Architect Financial Crime
Solutions Architect Financial Crime
— via Ebury

As Solutions Architect , specialising in Financial Crime, you will own Ebury’s services and applications architectural integrity and scalability.

Product Manager
Product Manager
— via Payabli

As the first Product Manager at Payabli, we expect you to be driven, independent, and resilient. You will have the ability to help shape the direction of the company by leading the implementation efforts for our most critical projects.

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