Artificial intelligence is no longer just a future vision for the financial industry. It is already reshaping how banks and service providers operate, deliver value, and grow. In a recent episode of The Blunt Dollar Podcast, Unique CEO Manuel Grenacher offered an in-depth perspective on one of the most transformative concepts emerging in this space: agentic AI.
Throughout the episode, he shared how this new class of AI is changing financial services, how Unique is applying it, and what it means for professionals, institutions, and leaders. Below is a summary of the most valuable lessons and learnings from the conversation.
Unlike traditional AI systems that passively assist users by offering information or recommendations, agentic AI takes meaningful action. These systems are capable of completing tasks on behalf of the user. For example, they can automate meeting preparation, book travel, or execute parts of a compliance process.
At Unique, agentic AI is not just a concept. It is the foundation of the product strategy. The goal is to automate repetitive and time-consuming workflows in banking and finance. This allows professionals to focus on work that requires human judgment and interaction.
The Unique platform is purpose-built for the financial services industry. It helps institutions automate key workflows such as KYC checks, due diligence, and the creation of investment insights. These are high-effort processes that typically consume hours of manual work.
By embedding AI into these tasks, Unique enables banks and financial service providers to significantly improve productivity. This is not about replacing people. It is about freeing them up to focus on more strategic and valuable activities.
As AI becomes more capable, it is important to ensure that control and responsibility do not shift away from humans. At Unique, the platform is designed to keep a person in the loop at all times. This includes built-in checkpoints, review workflows, and escalation paths.
This approach ensures that every AI-driven process remains transparent and accountable. The technology supports decision-making but does not replace it. Responsibility always remains with the people using it.
Navigating Job Security in the Age of AI
The growing presence of AI understandably raises concerns about job security. However, the shift is not about elimination, but transformation. AI will change how tasks are performed, but not the need for people altogether.
Professionals who embrace AI and learn how to use it effectively will become more valuable. Skills like prompt engineering, tool integration, and workflow design are becoming essential in modern financial operations. Those who invest in learning now will be better equipped for the future.
The pace of AI adoption varies across the industry. Fintech companies often move faster, experimenting and deploying solutions in shorter cycles. Traditional banks tend to proceed more cautiously but bring strong assets to the table, including trusted client relationships and deep operational data.
The companies that will lead are those that act quickly and purposefully, regardless of whether they are a startup or an established institution. Execution and willingness to adapt will determine who gains the competitive edge.
In regulated industries like finance, AI cannot operate in a vacuum. Accountability must be built into every system. Unique’s platform follows this principle closely. It is designed so that responsibility remains with the institution and the people using the AI.
This means that even when an AI agent performs a task, it does so under human-defined rules and controls. This structure ensures clarity, compliance, and trust at every stage.
Professionals who want to stay ahead in an AI-driven world need to build digital fluency. This starts with small steps, such as experimenting with AI tools in daily workflows. Trying new features, learning how to write effective prompts, or automating one part of a routine task can go a long way.
Understanding how AI systems work and how to collaborate with them is becoming just as important as traditional industry knowledge. Continuous learning is no longer optional—it is a career necessity.
Building a company like Unique also involves making difficult decisions. During the conversation, Manuel shared that one of the toughest challenges he faced was letting go of people when the company had to adjust its product focus. These decisions are painful but sometimes necessary to keep a business moving forward.
For leaders in fast-changing environments, clarity and decisiveness are essential. Acting early and communicating openly helps protect the integrity of the company and the well-being of the broader team.
Agentic AI is not a buzzword. It is a powerful tool that is already delivering measurable results across the financial services industry. At Unique, we are committed to building systems that combine intelligent automation with human oversight. This balance is what allows financial institutions to operate more efficiently, serve clients more effectively, and adapt with confidence.
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