Since the beginning of the month, we are pleased to welcome FG FINANZ-SERVICE Aktiengesellschaft as a new member of our community. FG FINANZ-SERVICE is a sustainable, independent, and personalized financial and wealth advisory service. With its neutral positioning, independent of product partners and corporations, it is able to offer a broad and diverse product portfolio.
To start with we had the opportunity to speak with Dirk R. Bartz, the Head of IT at FG FINANZ-SERVICE about his expectations, wishes and visions on AI and our IPAI ecosystem.
IPAI: It is clear that AI is much more than just a short-term hype, but what prompted you to look more closely at the possibilities of AI?
Dirk R. Bartz: We combine over 40 years of tradition and experience with the opportunities of modern AI. Our goal is to provide business partners and employees with the optimal tools to successfully navigate the path into the future together and at the same time strengthen our location in the long term.
And how far have you got with this? Are you already using AI tools or have you already implemented projects?
Although we are still relatively early in our efforts, we already have a clear vision and are in the process of putting it into action. For example, we have already used ChatGPT in our marketing and have accompanied initial projects in IT development with GitHub Copilot. Additionally, we have developed FG Writerly, a CRM-bound writing assistant based on GPT-4. Another AI project, which is not primarily software-related, is the establishment of a cross-departmental AI Task Force to drive AI transformation throughout the company.
Our Membership in IPAI marks an important milestone in our AI strategy. We recognized the potential of generative AI early on and successfully implemented initial use cases. The establishment of this center of applied AI in our region excites us, and we see great opportunities to leverage synergies together and further strengthen Heilbronn as an innovation hub. – Dirk R. Bartz, Head of IT
And how can our community and the entire ecosystem best support you on your transformation journey?
We are looking for a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge, and best practices around artificial intelligence within the IPAI community. We are particularly interested in practical applications and innovative AI solutions. By networking with other community members, we aim to create synergies to make progress in AI development together and strengthen competitiveness in the region. At FG, we recognized the potential of generative AI early on and successfully integrated it into various areas. We bring not only our comprehensive AI strategy to the community, but also experiences and insights from the application of various GenAI tools to explore innovative approaches and continuously improve processes. I believe this can create synergies that benefit both our company and the entire community.
How do you perceive our role as IPAI and our innovation ecosystem?
From our IPAI membership, we primarily hope to gain access to a powerful network of innovators and experts who will support us in further AI transformation. We are particularly looking forward to practical insights and concrete use cases that will help us integrate AI more effectively into our business processes.
The exchange of best practices and the opportunity to participate in groundbreaking projects are of great importance to us, as they will further strengthen our growth and competitiveness. Our primary goal in applying AI in our company is to optimize and make processes more efficient to offer our business partners and customers tailored, innovative solutions.
We aim to increase our competitiveness, improve decision-making, and unlock new business opportunities through the use of AI.
When it comes to the best solutions for your customers, people are at the center of your work, just like in our vision. Can you tell me what is your perspective on the topic of “Human AI”, which is central to our vision?
Human AI means for us designing artificial intelligence in a way that puts people at the center and complements their abilities. AI could also stand for Augmented Intelligence, which underscores the development towards AI copilots as a welcome approach. A practical example of Human AI is our CRM-bound AI “FG Writerly.” It enables our business partners to effortlessly create customized messages tailored to the individual needs and preferences of their customers. Unlike impersonal template letters, this AI preserves the humanity in communication and puts the customer back in focus. For us, Human AI embodies a technology that is not only functional and efficient but also respects and promotes human values.
Dirk, thank you for the exciting interview and good luck on your journey!