Richard Huston appointed as special AI advisor for Asset Finance Connect

He is tasked with helping AFC develop its coverage of machine learning and generative AI solutions as lenders start to consider how to apply this fast-moving emerging technology to their businesses. 

“Richard is helping AFC to develop its AI content at our June 3rd UK conference where we plan to brief lenders’ senior teams on the latest AI opportunities and challenges. We are focusing our content on three workshop tracks,” said Edward Peck, founder of Asset Finance Connect. 

• The Technology track for CTOs and tech specialists focuses on how to incorporate AI into existing tech stacks, integrate it with existing systems, how to leverage the offerings from the cloud providers, and what long term support and maintenance of AI-powered systems looks like.
• The Operations track for senior operational staff focuses on the real, tangible use cases that AI can be applied to across front, middle and back-office operations. We aim to cover topics like AI training and change management, i.e. covering the people aspect of applying AI to business operations.
• The Strategy & Revenue track for CEOs and will take a bit more of a high-level view, and will cover how to approach AI technology selection, how to plan a long-term AI strategy, how to approach AI governance and regulation, and where AI offers new revenue opportunities.

Applications to participate are welcomed from technology firms and lenders who have special knowledge or experience of the use of generative AI and/or machine learning in auto, equipment and asset finance. We are particularly interested to hear from lending firms who have started to implement generative AI or from technology firms who have started to develop use cases and are working on proofs of concept. Lenders and tech firms who would like to participate in the workshops either as a leader or as a delegate should contact Edward Peck at edwardpeck@assetfinanceconnect.com in the first instance.

AFC research suggests that many lenders are not yet sufficiently aware of how generative AI works, and the potential to deploy machine learning in their organisations. They need to understand how hugely transformational this emerging technology can be; and to understand how competitive advantages can be created and destroyed through its adoption. The AFC workshops at the AFC conference will provide lenders with increased clarity.

Richard Huston is the founder of VAMOS, a start-up specialising in applied AI for the asset finance sector. Richard and his team work with auto and equipment finance providers to enable them to safely and effectively implement AI solutions that are designed to seamlessly integrate with existing front, middle, and back-office systems from a wide range of technology providers.

One of the key deliverables that Richard offers his clients is a regular briefing on new AI developments – something which he tells us is almost a full-time job to keep up with given the fast pace of change in this well-funded part of the technology sector.

Richard has also been asked to brief attendees at the AFC UK conference on how to assess the opportunities from AI. “I will be providing lenders with my thoughts on the questions they should be asking when assessing AI solutions – so they are well prepared as they face a likely proliferation of AI focused products and services,” Richard said.

The Asset Finance Connect UK Summer Conference takes place on 3rd June at County Hall in London. Details of the full agenda will be released throughout April and May.