CFO 4.0 - The Future of Finance 227. AI in Finance | Preparing for the AI Revolution: Abundance or Catastrophe? with David Wood
May 20, 2025
David Wood, Chair of London Futurists and an expert on future technologies, dives into the impact of AI on business and society. He discusses why certain companies struggle to adopt AI while highlighting advancements in neuro-symbolic AI and video generation. The conversation explores the implications of Artificial General Intelligence for jobs and the essential skills of emotional intelligence and adaptability for future leaders. Wood warns of the risks and opportunities that lie ahead, urging responsible governance in the face of rapid AI advancements.
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Episode notes
AI Adoption Often Follows A J‑Curve
- AI adoption follows a J-curve where initial confusion can make firms abandon change prematurely.
- Companies that persist past early setbacks capture disproportionate long-term gains.
Use Domain‑Specific Models And Human Oversight
- Train or buy specialized AIs for your domain rather than relying only on general internet-trained models.
- Put human review processes in place and choose reliable partners to avoid costly mistakes.
Testing AI Produced Fake References
- David Wood tested AI with his own articles and found it invented non‑existent references.
- He compares supervising AI to supervising a bright young intern: 'hands off, but eyes open.'
