The Future of Wealth Management: Tech, Trust & AI – Fintech Garden Episode 128

Podcast #128: Rob Lunn on What AI Can and Cannot Do in Treasury, Accounting, and FX.

In this episode of the Fintech Garden podcast, host Igor Tomych speaks with Rob Lunn, Fintech Product Leader at Fnality, to explore the boundaries of what artificial intelligence can truly achieve in financial treasury, accounting, and FX operations.

With over 25 years of experience in payments and treasury across both banking and fintech, Rob brings an unfiltered view of AI’s impact on how institutions manage liquidity, reconcile transactions, and forecast risk. The conversation delves into both the technical and human aspects of automation, questioning how far we should allow machines to go in financial decision-making.

The limits of AI in finance: Despite the hype, Rob argues that AI still struggles to deliver consistency in mission-critical financial environments. From compliance to forecasting, human oversight remains essential, not optional.

AI vs. traditional automation: Rob explains the key difference between AI-driven systems and the rule-based automation that has powered banking for decades. He describes why “AI agents” might assist rather than replace existing infrastructures.

The data dilemma: Disconnected systems and poor data quality remain the biggest roadblocks to AI adoption. Without interoperability between treasury, payments, and accounting systems, automation only amplifies existing inefficiencies.

Developers in the AI era:

Rob shares his thoughts on how the role of developers will evolve. Coding itself may become less central than understanding business logic, data flow, and system integration.

The ethics of automation:

As fintechs race to adopt AI, the conversation also turns toward responsibility. Rob outlines the regulatory and ethical lines institutions must not cross, especially when AI begins to influence financial decisions.

Lessons from the field:

From building automation systems to testing AI in high-stakes environments, Rob’s practical insights help founders and engineers alike see what’s truly possible, and what remains firmly in human hands.

Why This Episode Matters

This episode provides a reality check for fintech professionals and founders exploring AI in finance. Rob’s experience bridges legacy banking systems and modern fintech innovation, revealing the truth about how automation, data, and trust interact in financial operations.

For anyone designing, funding, or deploying AI-driven products in the financial sector, this conversation offers a grounded look at the future of machine intelligence in money management.