AI4Fintech Community Kicks Off with Euronext Gong Ceremony and Thought-Provoking Event

The AI4Fintech community was officially launched on Friday October 4 with a celebratory opening of the Euronext exchange in the morning, followed by an afternoon event that brought together over 100 experts from across the financial sector, including representatives from banks, startups, regulators, and academic institutions.

The day began with a delegation at Euronext Amsterdam, where Jan Lintsen, Vice President of the University of Amsterdam's executive board, rang the gong, marking the formal launch of AI4Fintech, an initiative aimed at driving AI innovation in the financial industry.

The afternoon event kicked off with an introduction by Drona Kandhai, co-director of AI4Fintech, outlining the objectives of the new community. AI4Fintech seeks to create a collaborative ecosystem that bridges fundamental and applied research, promotes interdisciplinary collaboration across faculties, and intensifies partnerships with industry and governmental bodies.

Keynote speakers included Steven Maijoor, board member of De Nederlandsche Bank, who emphasized the need for regulatory frameworks to build trust and ensure responsible AI innovation in finance. He highlighted that while AI models show immense potential, their widespread adoption is still hindered by a lack of confidence in their independent functioning.

Max Welling, professor of AI at the University of Amsterdam, delivered a thought-provoking talk on the role AI can play in tackling climate change, particularly through the invention of new materials and the creation of markets for carbon credits.

A panel discussion, moderated by Sander Klous (co-director of AI4Fintech), explored key challenges such as reliance on Big Tech, the role of regulations, and the potential for AI to revolutionize financial systems. Panelists included representatives from Rabobank, ING, and Booking.com, who discussed the need for regulation, ethical AI usage, and the importance of fostering innovation responsibly.

The event marked the beginning of a series of future events aimed at catalyzing the responsible application of AI within the financial sector.