In this episode, host Amanda Razani sits down with Jeremy Ung, Chief Technology Officer of Black Line, to explore how AI is transforming the financial world. Jeremy shares insights from his work leading innovation in finance automation, delving into critical topics like building trustworthy AI, ensuring data quality, and setting solid audit trails to foster confidence in AI-driven systems. Discover practical advice for financial leaders on embracing change, training both humans and AI agents, and setting your organization up for safe and impactful AI adoption in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Summary

Jeremy Ung, CTO of Black Line, discussed the importance of AI in finance and the trust barriers it faces. He emphasized the critical role of data quality, noting that Black Line's Studio 360 product curates and structures data for AI models. Ung highlighted the need for auditability in AI systems, ensuring transparency and reliability. He advised financial leaders to establish clear processes and change management strategies for AI adoption. Ung also stressed the importance of leveraging existing organizational playbooks and investing in training to integrate AI effectively, aiming for a seamless collaboration between humans and AI agents.

Key Quotes:

• "Data is at the heart of all AI models—if you don’t have the right data, AI can’t produce the right answers."
• "One of the things is auditability around AI—being able to explain not just to the user, but to an auditor, how outcomes were reached."
• "Trustworthy AI means actions are recorded, agents have clear permissions and roles, and you can audit it just like another human."
• "Think about onboarding AI agents the same way you’d onboard a new college graduate at your company."
• "The change is happening and it’s exciting and scary at the same time, but the way to control your destiny is by leveraging the data you have."

Takeaways:

• High-quality, centralized data is fundamental to building effective and reliable AI in finance.
• Auditability and transparency are essential for establishing stakeholder trust in AI systems.
• AI agents should operate with the same oversight, roles, and controls as human employees.
• Successful AI adoption requires both structured onboarding for AI and comprehensive change management for staff.
• Clear organizational playbooks and investment in learning ensure safe and substantial value from AI integration.

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction & Guest Background
• 0:35 Black Line’s Role in Finance Automation
• 1:02 AI in Finance—Opportunities & Trust Barriers
• 2:04 The Importance of Data Quality for Reliable AI
• 3:39 Developing Safeguards and Auditability in AI
• 5:21 Creating Trustworthy AI with Audit Trails
• 7:23 Advice for Financial Leaders on AI Adoption
• 9:32 Laying a Foundation for Change Management
• 9:39 Key Takeaways & Future of AI in Finance
• 10:27 Closing Remarks & Audience Engagement

Links/Resource

Website:  https://www.blackline.com/ 

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyung/  

Podcast: Full Tech Ahead — Hosted by Amanda Razani

Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/