2 From model to money: a strategist's guide to real-world financial AI
This chapter covers
- Understanding why many technically sound AI projects fail in the financial industry
- Choosing a core business strategy: "Offense" for revenue vs. "Defense" for efficiency
- Building a compelling ROI case that resonates with business leaders
- Learning strategic decision-making through a realistic AI project case study
- Anticipating and overcoming the real-world obstacles that kill projects
In Chapter 1, we drew the map of the new world of AI in finance. We identified the four key continents of opportunity—Risk & Compliance, Market Intelligence, Customer Experience, and Operations—and outlined the 4-Layer Framework, the architectural blueprint for any expedition.
Yet no matter how detailed, a map alone cannot guarantee a successful voyage. The financial world is in the midst of an AI gold rush, with countless teams setting sail, armed with powerful technology. Yet, beneath the surface of this frantic activity lies a sobering reality: many of these expeditions will end in failure. These voyages fail not due to technical storms, but from unclear purpose and an inability to justify their cost. They will fail because they lose the battle for business relevance.