FSG Conference 2024
'Money talks, the future walks; are you ready to embrace the unknown?'
Currently, we are living in a changing world; with climate change companies have to
be more sustainable, with the rise of AI human life will change and an aging population
means that the active to inactive ratio will change. Will ESG reporting sufficiently drive
companies to become more sustainable? What impact will AI have on the stock market
and GDP and how many and which jobs will it automate? How do we keep pension costs
low in light of the changing composition of active to inactive working population?
During the conference, we hope to be able to answer those questions.
The new Wall Street; riding the wave of automated trading
The rise of AI is noticeable everywhere and is causing a lot of debate. However, it is no longer a novel concept in the financial world. Since 2002, High Frequency Trading companies have been using AI algorithms that rapidly analyze vast amounts of data. These algorithms detect when stocks are undervalued or overvalued and skillfully capitalize on these mispricings. Nevertheless, these HFT companies do not blindly trust the algorithm's trades, especially during rare market crashes where AI is vulnerable. The dilemma of addressing market inefficiencies while also facing the risk of potential market failure is a significant concern, exemplified by the widely recognized flash crash of 2010. To what extent does the stock market benefit from the implementation of AI algorithm trading and what is its danger for the stock market? Will AI also come to dominate other forms of investment? And what steps are essential to fully trust these algorithms?
Building a solid foundation in an aging world
Europe is threatened by an aging population and workforce. Birth rates are at their lowest point, yet our youth is increasingly ambitious and financially conscious. It is imperative to continually adapt and grow as a starting member of the workforce, as competition from more experienced employees will only increase. However, the challenges do not stop there. The demographic shift towards an older population means that the ratio of active to inactive workforce will continue to rise. This poses significant financial implications, particularly in terms of higher pension costs and increased demands on healthcare and social services. What challenges and opportunities emerge? To continue supporting the elderly, what changes can and need to be made?
Growing a greener financial landscape; a clear view of ESG reporting
Embark on an enlightening journey through the evolving landscape of ESG reporting. Starting in 2024, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) will come into effect and become mandatory for numerous companies. The CSRD mandates that companies report on their impact on people and the climate, aiming to enhance transparency and the quality of sustainability information. But what will be the impact of this new regulation? How will companies ensure compliance with CSRD requirements? The CSRD will bring about significant changes in sustainability reporting, affecting how companies report and communicate their ESG data to stakeholders. This is expected to lead to improved transparency and accountability regarding corporate activities. What will be the impact of this on the company's day-to-day operations?
The Rise of AI; Unraveling its impact on GDP
The fusion of human ingenuity and AI is reshaping economies, labor markets, and the very nature of work itself. With the rise of AI, several economists predict that the global GDP will improve by 7% within 10 years. The Gross Domestic Product will rise because of efficiency in production and services. But at what cost? Many people are scared that their jobs will disappear, for instance. Does it disappear, or will it just change? With the upcoming algorithms, the capability of collecting and using data improves massively. This matter delves into the interplay between AI and GDP, shedding light on the promises and complexities arising as AI accelerates its influence on the global economic stage. Furthermore it is interesting to zoom in on a European/Dutch scale, such that several countries can be compared with each other. Is the influence of AI different in one country than in another?
Panel Discussion:
Future’s unseen fees:
“Privacy Shield is a bad deal.” “American hospital hacked, data of eleven million patients exposed.” “Cyber watchdog warns of explosion of phishing emails due to smarter AI.” “DUO fraud detection once again dents trust in the government.” Technologies like AI are on the rise. They seem to be improving our economies and social structures. But we also noticed that there can be darker sides to implementing technology in our systems. For example, the issue about privacy and discrimination, how far can we go, and what are the ethical standards? Besides that, with the new technologies, access to information has improved enormously. But what is the truth, and how can you detect misinformation? These important questions will be discussed in the panel discussion with other speakers and the audience.
“Privacy Shield is a bad deal.” “American hospital hacked, data of eleven million patients exposed.” “Cyber watchdog warns of explosion of phishing emails due to smarter AI.” “DUO fraud detection once again dents trust in the government.” Technologies like AI are on the rise. They seem to be improving our economies and social structures. But we also noticed that there can be darker sides to implementing technology in our systems. For example, the issue about privacy and discrimination, how far can we go, and what are the ethical standards? Besides that, with the new technologies, access to information has improved enormously. But what is the truth, and how can you detect misinformation? These important questions will be discussed in the panel discussion with other speakers and the audience.
