Money Majlis Ep 35. Agents of Change, part 1: Bill Borden of Microsoft on how agentic AI is reshaping global finance
In this episode of Money Majlis, first of two episodes on agentic AI in financial services, Suvo Sarkar sits down with Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft, for a sweeping conversation on the future of banking and leadership in an AI-driven world. Bill’s journey from working at top US banks to shaping Microsoft’s worldwide strategy sets the stage for a dialogue that’s as pragmatic as it is visionary.
Spotlighting the transformative power of tools like Microsoft Copilot, Bill explains how AI is moving from hype to practical impact, enabling banks to boost productivity, reimagine customer experiences, and create new business models. He shares real-world examples—from UBS rolling out thousands of copilots to Wells Fargo slashing service times—and reveals how institutions are navigating the balance between innovation, security, and regulatory compliance.
Bill addresses the challenge of differentiation in a world where technology is increasingly accessible. He argues that while AI levels the playing field, true competitive advantage will come from how institutions leverage data, personalize services, and innovate at speed. He talks of the unique dynamism of the Middle East, where cloud adoption and government vision are accelerating digital transformation, and explores how AI can drive financial inclusion for underserved populations.
Will all of us have agentic assistants in the future? Will LLMs or SLMs rule the world? Is prompt engineering the most valuable area of learning today? Should banks become technology companies? Is hybrid work here to stay? And can bankers compete with Amazon and Netflix in harnessing data?
Tune in for a fascinating discussion on the intersection of finance and technology, and discover why the next wave of banking innovation may be closer—and more human—than you think.
And don’t forget to visit www.moneymajlis.com to view past episodes and redeem your free $50 voucher for a charity of your choice.
Research partner : Shekhar Krishnamurthy
Produced by : Sabine Achkar at Poddster
Giving partner : Goodworld