Speaker Name

Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ebada

What's one thing you hope attendees take away from your session?

hope attendees leave with a practical understanding that AI in fintech is no longer only about automation or isolated use cases. The real opportunity is to build AI-orchestrated financial ecosystems that connect data, APIs, compliance, customer experience, and decision-making into intelligent operating models. My key message is that the future belongs to organisations that can turn AI from a technical experiment into a trusted, scalable, and measurable business capability.

In one sentence, what do you do and what is your role?

I work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, product strategy, and scalable technology platforms, helping organisations move from innovation concepts to real operational and business impact.

What's the biggest challenge facing the industry in this area?

The biggest challenge is not the availability of AI technology. It is the ability to deploy AI responsibly, securely, and at scale across fragmented systems, legacy infrastructures, regulatory constraints, and rapidly changing customer expectations. Many financial institutions are experimenting with AI, but the real difficulty is integrating AI into production workflows where trust, explainability, governance, resilience, and measurable value are required.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone working in fintech today?

Do not treat AI as a feature. Treat it as a strategic capability. Start with a clear business problem, define the decision or process you want to improve, make sure the data and governance foundations are strong, and then scale gradually with measurable outcomes. The winners in fintech will be those who combine speed of innovation with trust, compliance, and operational discipline.

What book, podcast, newsletter, or resource would you recommend to our audience?

I would recommend following the MIT Sloan Management Review and Harvard Business Review for strategic perspectives on AI, digital transformation, and leadership. For professionals working directly with AI in fintech, I also recommend staying close to practical resources from leading cloud, data, and AI communities, because the field is moving very quickly and the strongest insights often come from real implementation cases.

What topic will you be speaking about at FinTech Connect 2026?

I will be speaking about how AI orchestration can transform fintech from isolated digital services into intelligent, adaptive, and trusted financial ecosystems. The session will explore how financial organisations can connect AI agents, APIs, data platforms, compliance layers, and customer-facing services to create scalable business value while managing risk, governance, and operational complexity.

Just for fun: if you could have dinner with any person, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would choose Alan Turing. His work laid the foundation for modern computing and artificial intelligence, and I would be fascinated to discuss how today’s AI systems, digital economies, and intelligent platforms have evolved from ideas that were once purely theoretical. It would also be interesting to hear his perspective on the ethical and societal responsibilities that come with intelligent machines.

What industry trend are you watching most closely?

I am watching the rise of AI agents and AI orchestration in financial services. The next phase of fintech will not only be about chatbots or predictive analytics. It will be about coordinated AI systems that can support decision-making, automate complex workflows, monitor risk, personalize services, and interact with multiple internal and external systems in real time.

Why is this topic particularly important right now?

This topic is important because financial services are entering a new phase where speed, trust, regulation, and personalization must work together. Customers expect real-time, intelligent, and seamless experiences, while regulators and institutions require transparency, security, and accountability. AI orchestration offers a way to connect innovation with governance, allowing fintech companies and financial institutions to scale AI without losing control.

What's one prediction you have for the next 3-5 years?

Over the next three to five years, AI agents will become part of the core operating layer of financial services. They will support customer onboarding, fraud detection, risk monitoring, compliance checks, financial advice, back-office automation, and product personalization. However, the most successful organisations will not be those with the most AI tools, but those with the best AI governance, orchestration architecture, and ability to convert intelligence into trusted business outcomes.