What do the following professions have in common: truck driver, stock broker, and sports writer?
All three are jobs that are already being done by artificial intelligence (AI). In the very near future, millions of other jobs will be mostly, if not fully, automated. The most conservative estimate, from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, is that 16 million workers will be replaced by automation in the U.S. alone.
These numbers can be shocking for finance professionals, especially as AI starts making inroads into the office of finance. But rest easy: AI isn’t coming for your job. It’s coming for repetitive tasks that can be easily automated. If the bulk of your work can be automated, it should be — and it’s time to focus on high-value tasks that only a human can do.
One thing is for sure: The working landscape as we know it is about to change radically, and the office of finance isn’t immune to those changes. The best way forward is to arm yourself with information: Learn about AI, what’s here and what’s just over the horizon, and how you can best use the technology to evolve the work you do.
To help you build personal intelligence on artificial intelligence, here are eight people who are experts in what comes next. Follow them on social media, read their posts, and you will be much better equipped for the AI revolution.
Finance and AI Experts to Follow
1. Eric Dowdell, Global Head of Trade Credit Business, Dun & Bradstreet
Eric started his career as an intern at Dun & Bradstreet a decade ago, and has steadily risen through the ranks to become the leader of their largest business unit. He is on the forefront of the movement to bring together human intuition and artificial intelligence, specifically within the office of finance.
Read This First: Future of Finance: Humans and Machines Unite
Follow Eric on LinkedIn
2. Daniel Newman, Principal Analyst & Founding Partner, Futurum Research + Analysis
Daniel is the rare futurist who focuses on the human side of the equation as well as the technological one. He is dedicated to helping people work together with technology to achieve a digital transformation. Thanks to his work with Futurum Research + Analysis, Daniel can see how the adoption of AI is playing out in real time, in actual organizations.
Read This First: Accounting for Change: Why Finance Should Lead Technology Adoption
Follow Daniel on LinkedIn & Twitter
3. Clara Durodie, Executive Chair & Founder, Cognitive Finance Group
The Cognitive Finance Group specializes in applied AI in financial services. As the Executive Founder of the group, Clara has made a name for herself as a global thought leader in finance and AI. She was named one of the top 100 women in fintech in 2016 and 2018, and has offered her expertise at conferences around the world.
Read This First: Artificial Intelligence in Plain English
Follow Clara on LinkedIn & Twitter
General AI Experts to Follow
4. Ahmed Banafa, IoT and Blockchain Expert
LinkedIn named Ahmed the #1 top voice to follow in tech, and it’s not hard to see why. Ahmed’s thoughts on blockchain, internet of things (IoT) and AI have been published in Forbes, ComputerWorld, and the MIT Technology Review, among many others. He has appeared on all four major television networks and is a sought-after speaker for technology conferences. If you want to know how AI and the IoT will change the way people work in any industry, Ahmed has you covered.
Read This First: Artificial Intelligence Can Be a Catalyst across Most Cycles of the IoT
Follow Ahmed on LinkedIn & Twitter
5. Oliver Christie, Artificial Intelligent Consultant | Futurist | Speaker
Oliver is an XPRIZE AI Ambassador with a deep understanding of the way AI works. He is an advisor for multiple AI groups and events, including New York Artificial Intelligence and the MnM Conference on Automative AI. His previous experience includes consulting on AI for the Financial Services Authority, CentSai, and Kiwi Insure.
Read This First: Thoughts on Realizing 2030: A Divided Vision of the Future
Follow Oliver on LinkedIn & Twitter
6. Shelly Kramer, Principal Analyst & Founding Partner, Futurum Research + Analysis
After nearly a decade in the field, Shelly has built an impressive practical knowledge base on AI and IoT. Her experience comes from helping some of the largest brands in the world achieve digital transformation. Shelly was also recognized by Forbes as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter.
Read This First: 2018: The Year of Artificial Intelligence and Insights as a Service {IaaS}
Follow Shelly on LinkedIn & Twitter
7. Yves Mulkers, Business Intelligence & Data Architect
Yves is a world-renowned thought leader for AI, specializing in implementing new technologies in large organizations. He is the founder of 7wData, a leading authority in business intelligence and big data news.
Read This First: Change Management for Analytics Success
Follow Yves on LinkedIn & Twitter
8. Chris Penn, Co-Founder & Chief Innovator, Brain+Trust Insights
Chris has a unique perspective on the future of AI, one well-informed by current applications of the technology and extensive research on work still in its early stages. While he focuses on AI in marketing, Chris has groundbreaking insights on how AI will change virtually every industry.
Watch This First: Digital Transformation and Disruption: An IBM THINK Talk
Follow Chris on LinkedIn & Twitter
Artificial Intelligence is already changing the way people work. Finance professionals aren’t immune to these changes. AI will make it possible for the finance department to be more forward-looking, to act as a strategic advisor for the organization. When finance embraces the AI transformation, we will have the ability to process data more quickly, generate insights, and provide up-to-the-minute advice for data-driven decision making. The thought leaders on this list can help your finance department prepare for new technology, new procedures, and a new way to look at your department’s role in the organization.
Put AI expert advice to work: Explore our Artificial Intelligence in Finance content hub.