Artificial intelligence is often framed as a race between automation and job loss, but this view overlooks the deeper economic shifts now underway. Rather than simply replacing tasks, AI is reorganizing entire systems of production and value creation. Like the shipping container and the barcode before it, AI’s transformative power lies in how it enables…
Read MoreHow Will AI Reshuffle Power in the Global Knowledge Economy? HOST (Paolo Sironi): Welcome to Banker’s Bookshelf, where we explore big ideas shaping the future of banking and fintech. Today I’m joined by Sanjit Paul Chowdhury, author of the groundbreaking book Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy? Why Are Predictions About AI…
Read MoreWelcome to the VUCA Bazooka Economy HOST – JP Nichols:Welcome to the new normal. Volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, VUCA, are now the baseline for banking and the global economy Today’s conversation explores how financial institutions can survive, remain independent, and even thrive when the economic environment changes daily. GUEST – Tim Mahedy (Founder &…
Read MoreTechnological progress is accelerating at a pace that challenges our capacity to govern it. Professor Brian Cox, renowned astrophysicist and science communicator, argues that humanity now faces a paradox: our intellectual and creative abilities are advancing faster than our political systems can adapt. From black hole physics to quantum computing, the frontiers of discovery promise…
Read MoreIntroduction: Science, Technology, and the Politics of the Future HOST (Brett King):Welcome to Breaking Banks. Today, I’m joined by Professor Brian Cox, celebrated experimental astrophysicist, author, and broadcaster. We explore the frontiers of space exploration, quantum information, and the global governance challenges posed by exponential technologies. Brian Cox: “Our technological and intellectual and creative abilities…
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Across Europe, the banking landscape is undergoing profound transformation. Branch closures and ATM reductions have accelerated over the past decade, cutting the continent’s physical banking footprint in half. While this evolution reflects the efficiencies of digital-first models, it has also sparked public resistance, as seen in Greece where the sharp reduction of ATM networks triggered…
Read MoreIntroduction: China, Europe, and the Future of Banking HOST (Brett King):Welcome back to Breaking Banks. In this episode of our Branch Tomorrow series, I’m joined by Richard Turrin and Paolo Sironi, two leading fintech thinkers and co-authors of the book. Together, we explore how China and Europe present very different models of digital disruption, what…
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The global banking industry has entered an irreversible phase of transformation: the decline of physical branches and the rapid rise of digital-first financial institutions. Evidence shows that the world reached peak branch in 2015, with G20 economies and the Eurozone marking the turning point. Since then, fintechs have reshaped customer acquisition economics, acquiring customers for…
Read MoreIntroduction: The Future of Branch Banking HOST (Brett King): Welcome to this special series exploring my new book Branch Tomorrow. After Bank 4.0, which launched in 2018/2019, the conversation has only intensified about the future of branches in financial services. Today, we look at why branch banking peaked in 2015, why digital acquisition models are…
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The financial services sector stands at a pivotal moment where regulation, technology, and customer trust intersect. At the recent Emerge Conference, new financial health standards were introduced to guide banks, fintechs, and policymakers. Importantly, these standards shift the focus from checking compliance boxes to supporting consumer well-being. In addition, they create a clear way to…
Read MoreIntroduction: Financial Health at a Regulatory CrossroadsHOST (Jason Henrichs):Welcome to another week of Breaking Banks. Joining me today are co-host Brett King and frequent guest Jennifer Tescher, CEO of the Financial Health Network, to unpack the newly released financial health standards presented at the Emerge Conference.These standards come at a time when the financial services…
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In today’s financial landscape, trust has become the most valuable, and vulnerable, asset for banks. With a $124 trillion generational wealth transfer underway, community banks face a critical inflection point. They must either redefine their role as trusted advisors or risk being replaced by more agile competitors. The forces reshaping trust in financial services today…
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