Panel Discussion on Technology Driving Financial Inclusion at London Tech Week

On the opening day of London Tech Week, Ant Group hosted the ATEC Technology Exploration Conference where four fintech professionals—Ant Group Vice President and Chief Data Scientist Qi Yuan, Innovate Finance COO Janine Hirt, Imperial College professor Andrei Kirilenko, and Onfido co‑founder Ruhul Amin—discussed whether technology narrows or widens wealth inequality and how it can promote financial inclusion.

Topic 1: Impact of Emerging Technologies on Global Financial Services

Janine Hirt emphasized data as the key driver, describing financial inclusion as a spectrum from helping the unbanked to offering better products for all, and highlighted AI’s role in shaping this spectrum.

Ruhul Amin illustrated real‑world examples such as the 2014 Everest base‑camp payment system and the importance of digital identity for over a billion people lacking legal identification.

Andrei Kirilenko explained how technology reduces financial costs by enabling proactive, data‑driven outreach to consumers and SMEs, citing Ant Group’s targeted insurance product for young women.

Qi Yuan outlined three principles: start fintech R&D from real problems, prioritize machine‑learning and explainable AI for transparent decision‑making, and stress cross‑border collaboration to deliver inclusive services.

Topic 2: Strategies for Fintech Companies to Achieve Effective Financial Inclusion

Ruhul Amin advised simplifying user experience to attract users via smartphones.

Janine Hirt urged entrepreneurs to understand their challenges, adjust target audiences, and form new partnerships.

Kirilenko presented invoice‑financing as a solution for small manufacturers needing working capital.

Qi Yuan highlighted accurate user targeting, regulatory cooperation, and data‑security partnerships such as Sesame Credit’s privacy framework.

Topic 3: Ant Group’s Collaboration with Bangladesh’s bKash

Qi Yuan described how AI, blockchain, and other core technologies enable Ant Group to support rural poverty reduction through digital finance platforms.

Ruhul Amin shared personal observations of bKash’s widespread adoption in Bangladesh.

Topic 4: Ethical and Regulatory Risks in Fintech Development

Kirilenko warned developers to understand regulatory jurisdiction and engage with authorities.

Qi Yuan stressed data protection, privacy, and the need for transparent AI models, referencing Sesame Credit’s four privacy principles.

Ruhul Amin added concerns about data breaches and the GDPR implications for machine‑learning models.

Topic 5: Advantages and Challenges of Different Fintech Business Models

Janine Hirt highlighted the growth of RegTech and insurance‑tech, emphasizing the need for partnerships.

Kirilenko argued that automation reduces costly human labor and that AI, blockchain, and cloud computing are foundational to modern fintech.

Qi Yuan reiterated the importance of revisiting problem definitions and focusing on collaboration over competition.

Topic 6: Overlooked Areas Crucial for Financial Inclusion

Janine Hirt identified education as a key factor.

Ruhul Amin pointed to blockchain’s potential for digital identity.

Kirilenko emphasized cultivating innovative mindsets in students.

Qi Yuan summarized the core technologies—BASIC, blockchain, AI, security, IoT, and financial computing—that drive Ant Group’s AI‑powered services across payments, micro‑loans, wealth management, and risk control.

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