[ I N D E P T H | A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E ]
“ Just because AI can perform a task much quicker than the smartest PhDs, doesn’ t mean the task itself requires a PhD in the first place.”
CYPRIAN ZIMECKI, SENIOR MULTI-ASSET TRADER, VONTOBEL ASSET MANAGEMENT
there’ s a two-line conclusion at the end, you may be tempted to jump straight to the conclusion instead of spending time looking at the full picture.
“ Now, if you move toward fully automated agentic workflows, you tend to remove the human component, and I think that’ s a mistake. We still need human intelligence. In my view, AI should make you think more, not prevent you from thinking by yourself.”
A ghost town? Elsewhere, conversations on the trading floor are gradually evolving to no longer be just about competition – but also about people.
As AI rapidly stakes its claim across capital markets, roles and responsibilities appear to be changing as jobs are redesigned to accommodate this shift.
For example, more manual or routine tasks, such as invoice processing or report generation are likely to be increasingly picked up by AI and technology, opening doors for greater analysis and focus on outputs and value creation.
While this brings many opportunities, particularly around efficiency and enhanced workflows, there are some fears that this will lead to smaller headcounts on desks, and narrower pathways into the industry for entry-level graduates looking to make their mark.
Reflecting on whether these concerns may, or are already translating into reality, Mahon asserts:“ I think AI will gradually change how trading desks are staffed, not because traders become obsolete, but because AI can add significant value in areas such as pre-trade analysis and TCA. The impact is more likely to be on productivity and hiring needs than outright replacement.”
He also adds that while this may not yet be evident on desks, it is likely coming in varying forms.
“ I do not think there is an immediate threat of AI replacing people outright on desks, but there is a realistic possibility that it reduces the pace of hiring in certain areas as firms increasingly leverage automation and AI-driven efficiencies.”
Despite this, many across the industry still hold strong that AI job displacement, although important to consider, will not have as significant an impact on this sector as would be believed.
“ There ' s a lot of discussion about AI leading to job displacement, but that ' s not what we ' re seeing firsthand,” Dean McIntyre, CCO at SimCorp, says.
“ In our experience, innovation is enabling us to do more, faster, rather than simply reducing headcount. Of course, it ' s a concern many people have. But what I ' ve observed so far is that AI is increasing capability and productivity, while demand continues to grow. As a result, people will remain an essential part of the process.”
Elsewhere, a further argument countering fears that younger generations will find little leeway to progress in AI-integrated markets centres on the skillsets and capabilities developed by entry-level participants, which set them up well for this new‘ era of trading’.
For Consigny, this is key to highlight among discussions about AI replacing jobs, and as he argues:“ Younger generations entering the industry right now are already used to using AI to learn, analyse information and improve productivity. Because
“ My big message is to be adaptable, be curious, embrace it, because AI is here and it ' s powerful, if done correctly.”
TOM CAREY, PRESIDENT, GLOBAL
TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONS BUSINESS, BROADRIDGE
Issue 88 // thetradenews. com // 31