Financial Inclusion | Digital Finance | Humanitarian Innovation | Social and Community Impact
I had the honour of participating in the 3rd Financial Innovation Forum in London, organised by QUBE Corporate Events . The conference, which focused on Payments and Regtech, provided fascinating insights into how AI is being leveraged to combat fraud. The discussions highlighted the evolving sophistication of criminal methods and the necessity for compliance officers to adopt advanced AI tools as new ‘weapons’ in this ongoing battle. In the development sector, we face our own battles—against hunger, poverty, and the lack of information necessary for informed decision-making. During the Financial Inclusion panel, I shared how Opportunity International is utilising #generativeAI to support farmers in Malawi. By providing essential farming information through WhatsApp, farmers can ask questions to Uangizi AI via voice or text and receive instant responses in both English and Chichewa. We believe that technologies like generative AI can help overcome the barriers that have historically hindered people from lifting themselves out of poverty. One key takeaway from the conference was the vast potential use cases for generative AI. Whether for small business owners, farmers, educators in low-cost private schools, or migrants and refugees, new technologies can offer substantial support. At Opportunity International, we are currently exploring these use cases. However, it is crucial to ensure these technologies are used to enhance lives rather than displace livelihoods. I extend my gratitude to my fellow panellists: Andrew Doukanaris FCMI, our moderator, Chris Pond, the chair at Financial Inclusion Commission in the UK, Rishi Raithatha, GSMA, Mick McAteer, Chair of Financial Inclusion Centre in the UK, and Chastity Murphy from the US Department of Treasury. Special thanks to Lilly Pavlou for inviting me to QUBE Events’ 3rd Financial Innovation Forum in London. #GSMA, #FinancialInclusionCommission, #TheFinancialInclusionCenter, #USDepartmentofTreasury, Financial Inclusion Forum Africa,