FTAHK Podcast

FinTech Association of Hong Kong

The official podcast of the FinTech Association of Hong Kong brings together policy makers, visionary founders, and institutional leaders to decode the trends, tech, and regulations shaping Asia’s premier financial hub.

Episodes

  1. 23 Jul

    Max Afanasyev: The Hidden Cost of AI | EP2

    What is AI really—and are we overestimating what it can do? In Episode 2 of the FTAHK Podcast, we sit down with Maxim Afanasyev, Financial Services Head for APAC & Japan at Google Cloud, to unpack the reality behind artificial intelligence, banking transformation, and the future of applied AI. From AI agents and hyper-personalization to the limits of automation, this conversation goes beyond the hype to explore what actually drives value in the real world. We dive into: What AI actually is (prediction vs. causality) Why replacing humans with AI agents in banking may backfire The risk of over-automating business decisions Hyper-personalization and the “filter bubble” effect Why applied AI experts are still extremely rare globally Whether AI is truly learning or just replicating patterns How Asia is leading in AI adoption across financial services Maxim also shares insights from his journey through McKinsey, Standard Chartered, and Google Cloud—and why the future of AI is less about replacing humans, and more about combining technology with critical thinking and business transformation. AI is powerful—but without the right people and strategy, it can create more risk than value. 👉 Watch till the end for Maxim’s definition of AI in one word. 🎧 Listen, subscribe, and join us as we explore the people and ideas shaping the future of fintech and AI. ✅ Subscribe to @FTAHKofficial on YouTube to stay updated with the latest content. Stay connected for more insightful episodes: Website: https://ftahk.org/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ftahkofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTAHKofficial/ #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Fintech #FTAHKPodcast #GoogleCloud #Banking #DigitalTransformation #MachineLearning #AppliedAI #FutureOfWork #AIAgents #HyperPersonalization #DataScience #TechPodcast #FinancialServices

    Max Afanasyev: The Hidden Cost of AI | EP2
  2. 9 Jul

    Victor Yim: Inside Hong Kong's AI Race | EP 1

    In this pilot episode, Victor Yim, Head of AI at @Cyberport Hong Kong joins host Caroline York to tell us the story of his journey to prominence, what he has learned, the advice he would pass on, and his perspective on the future of AI and Hong Kong. (00:00:00) Teaser / Highlight Clip (00:01:20) Introduction of Guest Victor Yim (00:02:18) - Snowboarding Passion and Personal Life (00:03:22) - Career Background and Transitions (IBM, Nice Actimize, TransUnion) (00:04:39) - RegTech, Fraud Detection, and Traditional Deep Learning (00:09:55) - Generative AI and Visual Language Models (VLM) (00:10:41) - Transition to Cyberport and Broadening Ecosystem Knowledge (00:11:32) - Public vs. Commercial Lens in a Startup Accelerator Space (00:13:03) - Startup Success Stories (OneDegree / AFT, Endowus) (00:17:14) - AI Landscape, Funding, and Regulation in Hong Kong (00:20:58) - AI Adoption for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and "Vibe Coding" (00:22:50) - Key Founder Traits for Success (Charisma, Co-founders, and Harsh Realities) (00:28:55) - Strategy for Going Global and Hong Kong as a Springboard (00:32:35) - Hong Kong's Global Leadership in Financial Asset Classes (00:35:53) - Global Talent Attraction and Lifestyle in Hong Kong vs. Singapore (00:39:15) - Final Advice and Wrap-up ✅ Subscribe to ‪@FTAHKofficial‬ on YouTube to stay updated with the latest content. Stay connected for more insightful episodes: Website: https://ftahk.org/ LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/ftahkofficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FTAHKofficial/ #Fintech #Web3 #HongKong #AI #Blockchain #Leadership #Startups #Podcast

    Victor Yim: Inside Hong Kong's AI Race | EP 1

About

The official podcast of the FinTech Association of Hong Kong brings together policy makers, visionary founders, and institutional leaders to decode the trends, tech, and regulations shaping Asia’s premier financial hub.