“Am I still relevant in the market?”
That was the first question on the opening slide of my talk at Delhi Technological University (formerly Delhi College of Engineering). And honestly, it’s the question that sits quietly in every finance professional’s mind today.
On October 31, 2025, I had the privilege of speaking to a packed hall of bright young management students at DTU about a topic that’s reshaping not just finance, but the future of work itself — Artificial Intelligence in Finance. My thanks to Dr. Arushi Jain for making the session possible and for the energy she brought to the conversation.
What’s happening?
AI is no longer a buzzword. It’s a boardroom strategy.
McKinsey estimates that Generative AI could add up to $4.4 trillion in annual economic value, with financial services at the heart of that growth. From banking to tax to consulting, algorithms are becoming colleagues — handling data analysis, automating compliance, and even drafting financial insights.
But here’s the twist: while AI is creating efficiency, it’s also creating a global divide. As countries race to power AI, new dependencies are emerging — reshaping geopolitics and economics alike.
Why should you care?
Because finance careers are being rewritten.
In tax administration alone, 60% of traditional skills could become obsolete within the decade, according to Thomson Reuters. Yet, those who upskill in AI, data analytics, and automation will be three times more valuable by 2030.
AI isn’t replacing finance professionals — it’s upgrading them. Imagine tax systems that predict non-compliance before it happens, or risk teams that proactively flag issues using AI-driven forecasts. This isn’t science fiction. It’s where the industry is heading — from reactive enforcement to predictive guidance.
What does this mean for students (and professionals)?
Your “arsenal” matters.
Tools like Claude, Agentic AI, and MCP are the new Excel sheets. The real differentiator won’t be who knows AI, but who knows how to use it smartly.
During the session, we explored how concepts like Vector Memory and Chain-of-Thought reasoning let AI mimic human judgment — not just fetch answers, but explain its reasoning like a seasoned analyst.
And when I asked, “How productive are you — really?”, I saw heads nodding. Because in an age of information overload, productivity isn’t about working harder. It’s about working intelligently.
As I wrapped up the talk, I shared a few career nuggets that hold true across industries:
-
Learn AI — don’t fear it.
-
Sharpen your math and logic.
-
Communicate clearly — it’s your superpower in an AI-heavy world.
-
Be the “Go-To Manager” — the one who gets things done.
The world of finance is transforming fast. But as I told the students that morning — your relevance isn’t under threat if your curiosity stays alive.
So, keep learning. Keep experimenting. And remember: the future belongs not to those who predict change, but to those who adapt to it.
Few moments shared by DTU:
No comments:
Post a Comment