What are we fighting for?

Consider how emerging technologies such as AI has been deployed across our financial services ecosystem and our everyday lives. They represent more than technical implementations —?they embody choices about who has access, whose perspectives and what values matter, and what futures we deem possible. When algorithms determine creditworthiness or allocate financial opportunities, they aren't just processing data; they're actively shaping economic destinies.

But our challenges are not technical; rather, they are very much human. For we should be fighting for a future where technology can amplify human potentials across all communities, not just the privileged few; where the rich tapestry of our humanity is celebrated and not suppressed.

Perhaps therein it lies the real struggle of our times: How do we measure success? Do market valuation and processing speed represent true progress? Or should success be measured by expanded access and improved well-being?

Are we designing systems and enacting policies that concentrate power or distribute possibility?

What we need are not just faster payments, but fairer opportunities; and we must demand not just artificial intelligence, but augmented humanity.

And that's the future that we should all be fighting for.

What I am reading:

[1] If you have yet to sign up for Jas Shah 's Fintech R&R newsletter, drop everything and do it NOW. He writes the best product teardown I have ever read and without over-the-top click baits. And above all, he is just a down to earth and wonderful human.

This week's blog on Stripe is yet another lovely read.

Oh, and last week on Zing ... !

[2] We have heard plenty about generative AI and ROI. We have seen plenty of companies laying off staff, citing 'efficiency gains' from the technology. At the same time, we have also talked about the need for AI to generate real value and solving a real-world problem.

So it should come as no surprise when Satya Nadella quipped that "we should be looking at whether AI is generating real-world value instead of mindlessly running after fantastical ideas like AGI."

In due time, we will get there. Until then, maybe it's not a bad thing that we dial back the hype just a tad bit?

[3] A wonderful friend of mine, Brian Lee , pointed me to a book he's reading: "Speaking of Change —?A Selection of Speeches and Articles" by Edward Filene.

It's food for the soul, and something that is much needed in times of turbulence.

"But freedom, of course, imposes responsibility; and this liberty, greater than humanity has ever known, must carry with it the greatest responsibility. Once it was necessary to consider only ourselves, our families and our immediate neighbors. Now our design for living must consider every family, every community, every state and every nation—must not leave anybody out." Edward A. Filene

You can read digital version of the book from Filene Research Institute 's website.

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The countdown is on! Just a few days until Fintech Meetup !

Join Jon Lunitz , Jacob Bailon , Alexus Padron , Ali Karim , and team at the breakfast session on Tuesday from 8-9 AM, and stop by the DATAMARK, Inc. booth (number 1730), where I will be signing copies of my new book, Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence.

Chat with the team about AI, innovation, BPO, and of course, the future of fintech! And I just learned that there might be special treats? ?????

It is Vegas after all.

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse Podcast, we dive into the world of digital banking and fintech innovations in Southeast Asia.

Joining us is David Jimenez Maireles, a renowned fintech expert and fractional C-suite leader. David shares his journey from building a digital bank in Vietnam to understanding the massive opportunities in a region with the unbanked and underbanked population. We discuss the unique and fun UX/UI features his team implemented, and explore the significant differences between digital banking ecosystems in Asia and the West. We also touch upon the role of traditional banks, the rise of embedded finance, and the exciting future of financial services in a region poised for exponential growth.

Don't miss this insightful conversation packed with real-world examples and visionary perspectives. Tune in to understand why Southeast Asia is a hotbed for fintech innovation. ???

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As always, thank you for reading. If you enjoy my posts ...

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?? You can now order my third and latest book: Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence.

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