You might expect this kind of doom-laden forecast from a labor
economist or tech ethicist. But this is coming from the CEO of a company that’s
embraced AI so enthusiastically it replaced 700 customer service agents with AI-powered
bots this February. Only to hire them back. At least some of them.
Your daily reminder that AI is gonna replace your job.
In this video, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemeatkowski explains how they use OpenAI to replace around 20% of employees with AI every year. And that's just the beginning.
Mistakes aside, it seems Siemiatkowski sees the use of AI as a tidal change,
sweeping across industries, apart from various positions that require manual
skills, “if you look at the factory workers today, lorry drivers, waiters,
chefs, salaries are going up at a pretty good rate,” he
said.
But this uptick in productivity comes with a darker shadow: mass
layoffs. Siemiatkowski
highlighted how quickly AI made its mark at Klarna, pointing to its role in
boosting efficiency—and noted that other CEOs are seeing the same trend unfold
in their own companies.
"Once gunning to be OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's 'favorite guinea pig,' Klarna is now plotting a big recruitment drive after its AI customer service agents couldn't quite hack it." pic.twitter.com/oTsg9ZEnM3
The sting in the tale? Klarna wasn't happy with the results of total AI domination when it came to customer and had to scrabble to re-hire.
The pivot has been fast, “We think offering human customer service is always going to be a VIP thing,” he told TechCrunch, while comparing AI service to bespoke clothes. “So we think that two things can be done at the same time. We can use AI to automatically take away boring jobs, things that are manual work, but we are also going to promise our customers to have a human connection.”
Siemiatkowski: Governments Need to Wake Up
While many tech CEOs are hyping up AI’s benefits, Siemiatkowski is
urging governments to brace for the fallout. His message? If we don’t act fast,
rising unemployment could tank the global economy.
It’s a pretty stark contrast from most corporate messaging, which tends
to focus on “AI empowerment” and “enhancing human potential.” Klarna’s boss is
saying: forget the buzzwords—this could break the economy.
From Warning Bell to AI Call Center
Now, here’s where things get darkly humorous.
After warning the world that AI is about to upend jobs and potentially
collapse economies, and after reversing course on AI customer service, Siemiatkowski went and made himself the star of... wait for
it... Klarna’s AI-powered customer service hotline.
The hotline allows customers to call Klarna and get a response from the
CEO—sort of. When you ring up, you’re greeted by a synthesized version of
Siemiatkowski’s voice, which can answer
questions, resolve issues, and, we hope, crack a few jokes. It’s his voice,
powered by AI, handling your mundane customer queries—because nothing says
“human-centered leadership” like turning your CEO into a chatbot.
Klarna claims that these chats could “translate into tangible product
improvements already the following day.”
It’s a neat PR move. It’s also peak irony.
The AI Paradox: Innovate or Disintegrate?
Klarna’s whole business model hinges on fast, efficient digital
transactions—so embracing AI makes strategic sense. But Siemiatkowski’s
warnings reveal a deeper paradox haunting every tech-forward company: if you
innovate too fast, you risk contributing to the very economic instability
you’re trying to avoid.
Can companies both adopt AI and avoid contributing to systemic
unemployment? Is it possible to champion innovation without gutting the
workforce? Siemiatkowski seems to be asking those questions himself—between
AI-powered customer calls, of course.
Klarna’s CEO Is Right—And Wrong
So is Sebastian Siemiatkowski the tech CEO we deserve—or the one we
need? On one hand, he’s voicing concerns most of his peers are too busy
pitching investor decks to address. On the other, he’s diving headfirst into
the same automation trend he’s warning us about.
In the race to dominate the future of fintech, Klarna is running full
throttle. But if its own CEO is right, the cost of that speed could be
massive—and felt far beyond the walls of any call center.
Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski warns that AI will kill jobs and trigger a
recession—right before talking to customers on an AI hotline.
You might expect this kind of doom-laden forecast from a labor
economist or tech ethicist. But this is coming from the CEO of a company that’s
embraced AI so enthusiastically it replaced 700 customer service agents with AI-powered
bots this February. Only to hire them back. At least some of them.
Your daily reminder that AI is gonna replace your job.
In this video, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemeatkowski explains how they use OpenAI to replace around 20% of employees with AI every year. And that's just the beginning.
Mistakes aside, it seems Siemiatkowski sees the use of AI as a tidal change,
sweeping across industries, apart from various positions that require manual
skills, “if you look at the factory workers today, lorry drivers, waiters,
chefs, salaries are going up at a pretty good rate,” he
said.
But this uptick in productivity comes with a darker shadow: mass
layoffs. Siemiatkowski
highlighted how quickly AI made its mark at Klarna, pointing to its role in
boosting efficiency—and noted that other CEOs are seeing the same trend unfold
in their own companies.
"Once gunning to be OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's 'favorite guinea pig,' Klarna is now plotting a big recruitment drive after its AI customer service agents couldn't quite hack it." pic.twitter.com/oTsg9ZEnM3
The sting in the tale? Klarna wasn't happy with the results of total AI domination when it came to customer and had to scrabble to re-hire.
The pivot has been fast, “We think offering human customer service is always going to be a VIP thing,” he told TechCrunch, while comparing AI service to bespoke clothes. “So we think that two things can be done at the same time. We can use AI to automatically take away boring jobs, things that are manual work, but we are also going to promise our customers to have a human connection.”
Siemiatkowski: Governments Need to Wake Up
While many tech CEOs are hyping up AI’s benefits, Siemiatkowski is
urging governments to brace for the fallout. His message? If we don’t act fast,
rising unemployment could tank the global economy.
It’s a pretty stark contrast from most corporate messaging, which tends
to focus on “AI empowerment” and “enhancing human potential.” Klarna’s boss is
saying: forget the buzzwords—this could break the economy.
From Warning Bell to AI Call Center
Now, here’s where things get darkly humorous.
After warning the world that AI is about to upend jobs and potentially
collapse economies, and after reversing course on AI customer service, Siemiatkowski went and made himself the star of... wait for
it... Klarna’s AI-powered customer service hotline.
The hotline allows customers to call Klarna and get a response from the
CEO—sort of. When you ring up, you’re greeted by a synthesized version of
Siemiatkowski’s voice, which can answer
questions, resolve issues, and, we hope, crack a few jokes. It’s his voice,
powered by AI, handling your mundane customer queries—because nothing says
“human-centered leadership” like turning your CEO into a chatbot.
Klarna claims that these chats could “translate into tangible product
improvements already the following day.”
It’s a neat PR move. It’s also peak irony.
The AI Paradox: Innovate or Disintegrate?
Klarna’s whole business model hinges on fast, efficient digital
transactions—so embracing AI makes strategic sense. But Siemiatkowski’s
warnings reveal a deeper paradox haunting every tech-forward company: if you
innovate too fast, you risk contributing to the very economic instability
you’re trying to avoid.
Can companies both adopt AI and avoid contributing to systemic
unemployment? Is it possible to champion innovation without gutting the
workforce? Siemiatkowski seems to be asking those questions himself—between
AI-powered customer calls, of course.
Klarna’s CEO Is Right—And Wrong
So is Sebastian Siemiatkowski the tech CEO we deserve—or the one we
need? On one hand, he’s voicing concerns most of his peers are too busy
pitching investor decks to address. On the other, he’s diving headfirst into
the same automation trend he’s warning us about.
In the race to dominate the future of fintech, Klarna is running full
throttle. But if its own CEO is right, the cost of that speed could be
massive—and felt far beyond the walls of any call center.
Louis Parks has lived and worked in and around the Middle East for much of his professional career. He writes about the meeting of the tech and finance worlds.
United Fintech Scores Sixth Backer Days After Barclays Deal
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Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Charlotte Bullock | Chief Product Officer, Bank of London | FMLS:25
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Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
In this interview, we sat down with Charlotte Bullock, Head of Product at The Bank of London, previously at SAP and now shaping product at one of the sector’s most ambitious new banking players.
Charlotte reflects on the Summit so far and talks about the culture inside fintech banks today. We look at the pressures that come with scaling, and how firms can hold onto the nimble approach that made them stand out early on.
We also cover the state of payments ahead of her appearance on the payments roundtable: the blockages financial firms face, the areas that still need fixing, and what a realistic solution looks like in 2026.
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We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
In this conversation, we sit down with Drew Niv, CSO at ATFX Connect and one of the most influential figures in modern FX.
We speak about market structure, the institutional view on liquidity, and the sharp rise of prop trading, a sector Drew has been commenting on in recent months. Drew explains why he once dismissed prop trading, why his view changed, and what he now thinks the model means for brokers, clients and risk managers.
We explore subscription-fee dependency, the high reneging rate, and the long-term challenge: how brokers can build a more stable and honest version of the model. Drew also talks about the traffic advantage standalone prop firms have built and why brokers may still win in the long run if they take the right approach.
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
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Executive Interview | Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller| CEO & Founder Muinmos | FMLS:25
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In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this interview, Remonda Z. Kirketerp Møller, founder of Muinmos, breaks down the state of AI in regtech and what responsible adoption really looks like for brokers. We talk about rising fragmentation, the pressures around compliance accuracy, and why most firms are still in the early stages of AI maturity.
Ramanda also shares insights on regulator sandboxes, shifting expectations around accountability, and the current reality of MiCA licensing and passporting in Europe.
A concise look at where compliance, onboarding, and AI-driven processes are heading next.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
In this conversation, we speak with Aydin Bonabi, CEO and co-founder of Surveill, a firm focused on fraud detection and AI-driven compliance tools for financial institutions.
We start with Aydin’s view of the Summit and the challenges brokers face as fraud tactics grow more complex. He explains how firms can stay ahead through real-time signals, data patterns, and early-stage detection.
We also talk about AI training and why compliance teams often struggle to keep models accurate, fair, and aligned with regulatory expectations. Aydin breaks down what “good” AI training looks like inside a financial environment, including the importance of clean data, domain expertise, and human oversight.
He closes with a clear message: fraud is scaling, and so must the tools that stop it.
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Exness expands its presence in Africa: Inside our interview with Paul Margarites in Cape Town
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
Finance Magnates met with Paul Margarites, Exness regional commercial director for Sub-Saharan Africa, during a visit to the firm’s office opening in Cape Town. In this talk, led by Andrea Badiola Mateos, Co-CEO at Finance Magnates, Paul shares views on the South African trading space, local user behavior, mobile trends, regulation, team growth, and how Exness plans to grow in more markets across the region. @Exness
Read the article at: https://www.financemagnates.com/thought-leadership/exness-expands-its-presence-in-africa-inside-our-interview-with-paul-margarites/
#exness #financemagnates #exnesstrading #CFDtrading #tradeonline #africanews #capetown
