VAMOS’s Richard Huston featured in latest AFC Podcast episode
In the latest AFC European Equipment Finance podcast, sponsored by Alfa, Richard O’Donohue speaks with Richard Huston, Managing Director and Co-Founder of VAMOS, to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is being practically applied in the asset finance industry.
Huston, who spent over a decade at Alfa before launching VAMOS, now helps financial services firms unlock value from AI through strategic consulting and bespoke tools. While acknowledging the growing fatigue around AI hype, he emphasises that real value emerges only when the technology is applied thoughtfully within specific business contexts.
During the episode, Huston shares examples of AI streamlining operations — from interpreting customer emails to assisting with contract changes — dramatically reducing manual admin time. He also demonstrates how AI models like Anthropic’s Claude can summarise complex legal documents and even generate presentation slides, offering tangible “wow” moments for business users.
Huston stresses that AI should support, not replace, human decision-making. By positioning AI as a “smart intern,” he advocates for keeping humans in control, while using AI to boost efficiency.
He also addresses concerns around hallucinations and energy consumption, urging responsible use and the adoption of techniques like retrieval-augmented generation to reduce errors.
Huston encourages listeners to experiment with AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to better understand their capabilities — not just in business, but in everyday tasks. The message is clear: AI isn’t magic, but with the right approach, it can be a game-changer.
The full episode is now available on the AFC website and podcast platforms.
