1. My Personal Reflection: AI at GASCO and in My Studies

During my internship at GASCO, I worked closely with the finance team and got a firsthand look at how much time is spent on collecting data, double-checking entries, and waiting on reports to be finalized. A lot of the work was manual—things like reconciling account balances and supporting month-end closing. It made me realize how much potential there is for AI to help—not in replacing jobs, but in removing the slow, repetitive parts.

If there were an AI system that could flag unusual journal entries in real time or suggest corrections based on past patterns, it could have saved hours of back-and-forth. I also think about the stress I saw during closing periods—AI could help speed up that process by automating checks or even drafting preliminary reports. And in a company like GASCO, where financial decisions connect directly to big operational costs, using AI for forecasting or risk analysis could help catch issues before they turn into losses.

Even outside the internship, as a student, I see how AI could change how we study finance. Instead of spending hours building Excel models from scratch, I could run different budget scenarios using AI and learn from the outcomes. That way, I focus more on the “why” behind financial decisions, not just the mechanics.

So for me, AI isn’t some distant future idea—it’s something I now wish I had during my internship. It could have made our work faster, more accurate, and way less stressful. As someone planning a career in finance, learning how to work with AI feels less like an option and more like something essential.

2. AI’s View: How AI Will Be Used in Finance

The integration of AI into finance is set to transform the industry in numerous ways, making financial services more efficient, accessible, and personalized. AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data in real-time will enable more accurate financial forecasting, improved investment strategies, and enhanced risk management. For businesses and individuals alike, this means faster, more secure transactions and smarter financial decisions. AI will also streamline processes such as credit scoring, loan approvals, and fraud detection, further enhancing the overall user experience.

However, this technological shift will bring about several challenges. One of the most significant is the potential displacement of jobs in routine tasks, as many manual processes will be automated. In addition, the increased reliance on AI raises concerns about data privacy and security, requiring strict regulation and oversight to protect sensitive financial information.

While some roles may be automated, the rise of AI in finance will also create new job opportunities. There will be a growing demand for professionals skilled in data analysis, machine learning, and AI system management, requiring individuals to adapt and acquire new skills. As AI continues to reshape the financial landscape, it will drive innovation in financial products and services, but careful management of its ethical implications will be crucial to ensuring that the benefits of AI are maximized while minimizing its risks.

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Interview with Dr. Jasmin Fouad – Finance Professor at AUC

Dr. Jasmin’s Picture from LinkedIn

During our interview conversation, Dr. Jasmin Fouad, one of the finance professors at AUC, provided an inspiring and practical overview of how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the future of finance. She emphasized that AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s already here and evolving rapidly. One of the key points she discussed was how AI can analyze massive amounts of data within seconds to predict market trends, enabling investors and banks to make smarter, faster decisions.

Dr. Jasmin also highlighted the role of robo-advisors—AI-powered tools that offer personalized financial advice based on a person’s income, goals, and risk tolerance, reducing the need for a human advisor in every situation. Another exciting aspect she mentioned was security: AI can now detect unusual or suspicious activity in real time, helping to prevent fraud before it occurs.

Additionally, she explained how AI is streamlining routine tasks like invoicing, payment processing, and financial reporting, which not only saves time but also reduces human error. Perhaps most notably, she talked about AI’s impact on customer service, such as intelligent chatbots that can understand user needs and provide immediate assistance.

She concluded by stressing that the future of finance will belong to those who are ready to adapt. Companies must invest in strong digital systems, and finance professionals need to start learning how to work alongside AI in order to stay ahead.
 

Interview Link

4. Interview with Salah – A Financial Accountant at GASCO

Salah’s Picture from Google

In our conversation, Salah, a financial accountant at GASCO, shared his thoughts on how AI will impact finance in the near future. He explained that AI will help streamline many financial processes by quickly analyzing large amounts of data. This will make things like investment decisions and trend predictions much more accurate.

Salah also mentioned that AI will improve customer service through chatbots and virtual assistants that can offer tailored advice to clients. He highlighted how AI will make fraud detection faster and more precise, which will help protect financial accounts in real-time. He also pointed out that AI will make the loan approval and credit scoring processes quicker and fairer by looking at more data than just the traditional sources.

Ultimately, Salah believes that AI will make financial services more accessible, efficient, and secure for everyone.

He summarized his perspective as follows:

“In the near future, AI is going to make a big difference in finance by streamlining and enhancing many key processes. It will enable us to analyze massive amounts of financial data in seconds, helping investors and analysts make smarter decisions and more accurately predict market trends.

AI will also significantly improve customer service through intelligent chatbots and virtual assistants that offer personalized support around the clock.

Another major benefit is fraud detection—AI can identify suspicious activity in real time, providing stronger protection for users. Additionally, it will speed up processes like loan approvals and credit scoring by considering a wider range of data points than traditional systems, making the process not only faster but also fairer.

Overall, I believe AI will make finance faster, safer, more efficient, and much more user-friendly.”

Our Email’s conversation

What I sent him

His Reply

Final Thoughts (Reflection)

After diving into the responses I got from AI, Dr. Jasmin, and Salah, I’m feeling both inspired and more aware of how much AI is going to transform the future of finance. Some of the ideas resonated with things I had already been considering, but hearing them from these different perspectives added new layers to my understanding.

The insights from AI were eye-opening. The idea that AI can sift through huge amounts of data in real time to make financial predictions or spot trends is incredible. While I knew AI was already being used in some areas, I didn’t fully grasp how powerful it could be in improving things like fraud detection and automating tasks such as reporting. It made me realize how much time and energy could be freed up for finance professionals to focus on the bigger picture—decisions that truly move the needle for a company. Additionally, I hadn’t considered how AI could improve loan approvals or credit scoring by pulling from more data sources, making them faster and more accurate. That seems like a game-changer in terms of fairness and efficiency.

Dr. Jasmin’s take on AI felt like a wake-up call. She mentioned that AI isn’t just about speeding up processes or automating tasks; it’s also about enhancing customer experience. Robo-advisors, AI chatbots, and real-time fraud detection—these are already happening and will only improve. I hadn’t realized how much AI could reshape customer service in finance, making it more personalized and interactive. Her point about staying adaptable to these changes really resonated with me. The way she framed AI as something we need to integrate into our daily work, rather than viewing it as something “out there,” made me realize that this isn’t a distant future; it’s happening now. If I want to be at the top of my game in finance, I need to embrace this shift, not just wait for it to happen.

Salah also brought fresh insights. His focus on how AI can make financial services more accessible really stood out. Whether it’s improving customer interactions through virtual assistants or speeding up processes like loan approval, AI is making financial services more efficient and less biased. This made me think about how AI can not only help businesses but also empower consumers by making services more accessible.

I have to admit—I was a bit shocked and amazed by how advanced and integrated AI already is in the finance world. I expected AI to be useful, but I didn’t realize how many areas it’s already touching or how significantly it can shift the way we work and make decisions. That surprise turned into motivation.

After hearing all of this, I’m more convinced than ever that AI will play a huge role in the future of finance. However, it also leaves me feeling a little pressure—there’s so much to learn, and the pace of change is fast. I need to be proactive about staying on top of these new tools and understanding how they can impact not just day-to-day tasks, but also strategic decisions. I’m definitely planning to dive deeper into AI-driven financial tools, perhaps take some courses, and better understand how this technology works so I can leverage it to my advantage. It’s no longer an option to rely solely on traditional methods, especially as a future finance professional. What struck me the most, though, is the incredible opportunity to reshape the finance industry. AI doesn’t just make things faster; it makes them smarter, and I want to be part of that evolution. But I also recognize that it’s up to us to adapt and embrace these changes before they leave us behind.

I used AI to rewrite my reflection in a good flow and grammar.

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