Senior Market Intelligence Analyst, AI
American Banker
Larry Cao, CFA, is Senior Market Intelligence Analyst, AI, at American Banker, where he focuses on the adoption and implications of artificial intelligence across banking and financial services.
Larry has more than two decades of experience in investment research and financial services, with a particular focus on AI adoption, data-driven investment processes, and the future of finance. He previously served as a senior research leader at CFA Institute, where he led and authored research on AI, big data, fintech, investment management, and evolving skillsets in the financial industry. He is the editor of Handbook of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Applications in Investments and author of research on AI adoption and T-shaped teams.
Larry’s research and commentary have been cited by regulators and industry organizations globally, and featured in major media outlets including Bloomberg, the Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Reuters. Earlier in his career, he held roles at Morningstar/Ibbotson, Munder Capital Management, and McKinsey & Company.
Larry holds an MBA in finance from the University of Notre Dame.
Between 2026 and 2030, banking will be re-architected at its core. Artificial intelligence will move from decision support to autonomous execution. Financial activity will increasingly occur on-chain. Banking services will be embedded into non-bank platforms. Cyber risk and fraud will redefine digital trust. And regulation will be rewritten for a world of real-time, programmable finance.
This super-panel brings together executive leaders to examine the five forces that will define competitive advantage over the next five years—and to debate what incumbents must change now to remain relevant. The discussion will focus not on experimentation, but on strategic choices, operating model shifts, and leadership decisions that will shape the future of banking, including a deep dive into the following: