Innovate Finance contest calls for fintech start-ups
Innovate Finance, a UK-based fintech membership association, is seeking start-ups for its latest Pitch360 competition.
Artificial Intelligence/AI
Deutsche Bank jumps on IBM Watson for Germanic AI ambitions
Wunderbar! Deutsche Bank has completed internal proofs of concepts (PoCs) with IBM for the deployment of an artificial intelligence (AI) powered Watson cognitive system in the German language. The system will be used in the bank’s Artificial Intelligence Client Communication Centre (AI-C³), and Deutsche Bank says it will use Watson for the development of a […]
Alibaba sets aside $15bn R&D war chest to be a world beater
How do you try and become one of the biggest and most influential technology companies in the world? Just move the $15 billion you have stashed away into the R&D business.
The modern trade landscape: banks and digitalisation
Innovative technologies are increasingly sparking enhancements to trade processes. BNY Mellon Treasury Services’ Dominic Broom, global head of trade business development, and Joon Kim, head of global trade product, discuss how the industry – with banks at the helm – can drive forward new capabilities and help to support trade growth through digitalisation.
Dell putting its company muscle behind new IoT strategy
Dell Technologies is looking to leverage the various parts of the company into a new internet of things (IoT) strategy that focuses on the edge of the network, hyperconverged infrastructure at the middle, cloud computing in the data centre, as well as the end points picking up all the data.
Microsoft Ventures seeks AI-merican Idol
Microsoft Ventures has partnered with Madrona Venture Group to launch their Innovate.AI global start-up competition as they seek out machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) firms. Madrona says the convergence of cloud computing, specialised chips for machine learning and new advances in algorithms has created a “unique opportunity for start-ups to build high value intelligent […]
La Caisse and Desjardins Group launch fintech and AI in finance fund
Canada’s La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec and Desjardins Group have set up an investment fund dedicated solely to the fintech sector and to artificial intelligence (AI) applied to finance.
IBM combining data science and AI for analytics advance
IBM is looking to offer big data number crunchers and data scientists a way to add more machine learning and deep learning technology into the analytics process by combining two of the company’s platforms developed specifically for artificial intelligence (AI) and scientific research. Enterprise Cloud News (Banking Technology’s sister publication) reports that two IBM executives, […]
It’s official – Siri is a simpleton
It is true, but might be a bit mean to single out the iLeader, as researchers have put various artificial intelligence (AI) programmes to the test, figuring out what the IQ of each one is.
Around Fintech in 8 Hours – new online course launched by CFTE
Centre for Finance, Technology and Entrepreneurship (CFTE) has launched a fintech foundation course – Around Fintech in 8 Hours – “designed to give professionals working in the finance industry a solid understanding of how technology is redefining the provision of financial services”.
Innovate Finance contest calls for fintech start-ups
Innovate Finance, a UK-based fintech membership association, is seeking start-ups for its latest Pitch360 competition. The contest is open to any start-up in the following sectors: Distributed ledger technology (DLT) Financial inclusion Cybersecurity Cross-border payments Peer-to-peer and alternative funding Regtech Personal finance management and robo-advice Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning Sandboxes The winner will […]
BNP Paribas is a Smart Chaser for AI-powered trade
BNP Paribas Securities Services is implementing Smart Chaser, a trade matching tool using artificial intelligence (AI) and predictive analysis, to further automate trade processing services it provides to investment managers. According to BNP Paribas Securities Services, trade matching – the comparison of trade details between the client and its broker – must be performed in […]
It’s official – Siri is a simpleton
It is true, but might be a bit mean to single out the iLeader, as researchers have put various artificial intelligence (AI) programmes to the test, figuring out what the IQ of each one is. Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication) reports that Liu Feng of Beijing Jiaotong University, Yong Shi from the Chinese Academy of […]
Bank of England fintech accelerator feels the fourth for innovation
The Bank of England’s (BoE) fintech accelerator has unleashed four new initiatives in the fields of distributed ledger technology (DLT), data storage and analysis, machine learning and cybersecurity. As reported in July, BoE revealed the third stage – such as its work with machine learning Mindbridge AI, DLT darling Ripple, and regtech bouncer Enforcd. Now […]
Central banking and fintech: a brave new world?
This is a moment to celebrate 20 years of independence during which the Bank of England has been a stabilising force for the UK economy, inspiring others in the world of central banking.
Google bids for AI leadership with new Pixel 2 smartphone
Internet giant Google’s big gadget unveil is all about positioning itself for the artificial intelligence (AI) era, not becoming an iPhone killer, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). The flagship product is the Pixel 2 – a product so important for Google that it blew a billion bucks on beefing up its R&D team. As […]
Google’s Deepmind sets out to tackle AI ethics
If you ask the world of technology to slow down a bit, you’re instantly branded as a technophobe. But perhaps a bit of reflection is needed in the artificial intelligence (AI) arena, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Google’s Deepmind is one of those which is starting to think a bit deeper about the big, […]
Why financial services should be terrified of dispensing wealth management robo-advice
Robo-advisors are software programmes that provide financial advice with minimal human intervention. Software has been providing advice for half a century, from portfolio management to trading strategies to currency management, and more. The novelty is providing robo-advice direct to consumers. Robo-advice costs less than “bricks & mortar & human” services, hopefully harvesting a bigger market. […]
Funding Societies interns introduce chatbot Miyu
Funding Societies, a Singapore-based crowdfunding platform, has launched its chatbot Miyu. A first for such a chatbot created by a crowdfunding company in Southeast Asia. Developed by two interns at Funding Societies using bot platforms meya.ai and api.ai, combined with machine learning and natural language processing, Miyu works round the clock to answer queries about […]
Bring on the money drones
Following testing by Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, to deliver cash to clients using a custom-made drone, the arrival of more frequent cash deliveries by drones look to be just around the corner, with reports suggesting as early as the end of 2017.
Alexa’s footprints are starting to appear all over the place
While Google is doing its impression of a petulant child, storming home from the park with its football tucked under its arm by barring Amazon Echo Show access to YouTube, Amazon has drafted a host of reinforcements for its Alexa offensive, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). For the most part, the majority of the news […]
Pindrop Releases ‘Next-Gen’ Phoneprinting with Machine-Learning Might
Pindrop, an Atlanta-based voice security and authentication firm, says its latest technology release is improving clarity and accuracy and increasing fraud detection by 20 percent.
Alexa Is Making ‘Her’ Presence Known
While Google is doing its impression of a petulant child, storming home from the park with its football tucked under its arm by barring Amazon Echo Show access to YouTube, Amazon has drafted a host of reinforcements for its Alexa offensive.
TCS makes Intel-ligent move for new AI centre
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will set up an artificial intelligence (AI) “Centre of Excellence” (CoE) with Intel as they join the horde hoping to prosper in this highly competitive market. The new AI CoE will be equipped with the usual technologies and experts to assist “Intel Nervana AI Academy” members – including developers, data scientists, […]
SCU launches AI service for customer queries
SCU (formerly Sydney Credit Union) has partnered with Australian fintech firm Epictenet to implement an artificial intelligence (AI) powered platform for customer queries. The new platform, called “Let’s Chat” (in its initial phase), is programmed to respond to general queries related to home loans, personal loans, credit cards and insurance products. At a later phase, […]
Payment Trends: BAI Beacon 2017 Preview
Cut through the noise and examine the payment trends most likely to affect your bottom line.
RHB and RinggitPlus launch chatbot lending in Malaysia
Malaysia’s RHB Bank Berhad and RinggitPlus – a comparison website for financial products – have introduced “ChatBot’”, the “first” real-time messenger-style platform in Southeast Asia for personal loan applications. Consumers can apply for a loan via ChatBot on RinggitPlus’s website and obtain the results for eligibility via an SMS. The platform auto populates information provided […]
Intel unveils self-learning “neuromorphic” AI chip
It might not have totally nailed artificial intelligence (AI) yet, but with its new research project, Loihi, Intel claims to have crossed a bridge which many are still trying to build; on-chip learning, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). In its search for a new growth area, Intel has focused on the burgeoning world of […]
Japan embraces fintech’s hard-boiled wonderland
Banks and politicians in Japan are getting ever more energetic for fintech with grand plans for APIs, artificial intelligence (AI), digital currencies, blockchain, funding for start-ups and an easing of regulations. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) will launch a website on Monday (25 September) for makers of smartphone […]
State Street unveils Quantextual Idea Lab for investment research
State Street has launched its Quantextual Idea Lab, a hybrid of machine learning and human knowledge, for improved investment research. According to the firm, investment professionals are inundated with research reports from the sell side, the buy side and academia. It reckons financial research teams can produce enough content to consume 24 reams or 12,000 […]
South Africa Bettr get ready for new mobile banking service
South African start-up Bettr Finance is preparing to launch its mobile banking service – with the offer of no monthly account fees and no bricks and mortar branches. It’s early days at the moment, so timelines and specific details are not available. But on its website its alpha phase is limited to 10,000 users. The […]
Can money buy friends? Intel is hoping so
Intel has shown its defensive side with a humble-brag that it has invested $1 billion in artificial intelligence (AI). We didn’t realise Intel had to use money to make friends, but each to their own, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). In an editorial piece by CEO Brian Krzanich, Intel has decided to shout at […]
Fintech funding round-up: 19 September 2017
Four stories in one for a fast fintech funding round-up. Features Ellevest, iZettle, GoCardless and MarketInvoice. New York-based fintech Ellevest, led by former Merrill Lynch CEO Sallie Krawcheck, has got itself $34.6 million funding. Ellevest is a bit different from the rest as it was founded to provide an investing experience to “help women meet […]
Royal Bank of Canada pilots AI-powered finance guide
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), with the help of Personetics Cognitive Banking’s applications, will deliver two new services this autumn that provide AI-powered financial guidance and an automated savings programme through the bank’s mobile app. The development follows on from last month, when RBC unveiled these two digital services – called NOMI Insights and NOMI […]
Leveraging AI and Machine Learning to Enhance the Customer Experience
As big data just keeps getting bigger, banks, retailers and every other kind of company must have more sophisticated tools to understand and predict what customers want and need.
AI is starting to get seriously smart, perhaps worryingly so
We’ve seen a couple of artificial intelligence (AI) shout-outs this week with Microsoft targeting telcos’ worryingly poor customer service record and European scientists potentially creating the building blocks for Skynet, reports Telecoms.com (Banking Technology’s sister publication). Starting in the Microsoft offices, the team has paired up with Amdocs to provide an intelligent solution to one […]
Fintech funding round-up: 13 September 2017
Quickly following on from the fintech funding round-up on 11 September, here’s more action in a concise form. Features InfoSum, Neyber, Goldman Sachs, Forward Partners and BlackRock. Data tech start-up InfoSum has added $5 million to its seed funding, taking the total raised to date to $8 million. Joining existing investors Mark Suster (Upfront Ventures) […]
STACK Taps Mastercard Prepaid for Challenger M-Banking App
There’s a new fintech challenger in town. Toronto-based STACK announced its partnership with Mastercard two weeks ahead of the beta launch of its mobile financial services app and companion prepaid card.
What we learnt at CloudSec: life, death and Twitter
Before you get too excited about the down and dirty world of cloud security, we should warn you this is more of a light-hearted report on the quirky things our sister publication Telecoms.com picked up at the CloudSec conference.
Petal uses machine learning to underwrite credit without credit score
After two years of stealth technology development and $3.6 million in venture capital backing, New York City-based Petal has announced a credit card that uses machine learning to underwrite customers instead of traditional credit scores.
