2026 FinTech Predictions: Insights from Gaby Diamant of BridgeWise
BridgeWise CEO Gaby Diamant shares predictions on AI trust, the AGI reality check, and why specialist models will outperform general-purpose AI in regulated finance.
We spoke with Gaby Diamant, Co-founder and CEO of BridgeWise, the global leader in AI for investments. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape financial services, Gaby offers a grounded perspective on what 2026 will really bring—from the AGI hype cycle to the rise of vertical-native AI solutions.
Over to you Gaby - my questions are in bold:
What's the biggest shift you expect across financial services in 2026?
As global scrutiny of AI intensifies, trust and compliance will become absolutely paramount to any emerging model's success. Oversight in finance, law, and other sensitive sectors is stringent, so if an AI model can't justify its decisions and meet regulatory standards, any market share hopes are dashed.
Which emerging technology will have the most practical impact on banks and the FinTechs that support them?
There's a lot of chatter and hype about where artificial general intelligence will be in 2026 but I'd prefer to take a more realistic view. Without a fundamental hardware shift, most AGI announcements will outpace what is technically achievable and while excitement will be high, it's important to stay realistic on what AGI's real world transformation might be.
What risks or blind spots do you think the industry is underestimating as we move into 2026?
I expect that competition among the top model developers (e.g.OpenAI and Google) will warm up. With the leading players in a close battle to the top, Google's recent Gemini progress is translating into impressive gains. Rather than seeing a single dominant force rising to the surface, I expect 2026 to pave the way for a more balanced landscape across competitors.
Additionally, I believe general-purpose models will increasingly struggle in heavily regulated domains. This creates fertile ground for specialist, vertical-native companies, from wealth tech to legal tech to health tech, to capture real enterprise value.
Thank you Gaby! You can connect with Gaby on his LinkedIn Profile and find out more about the company at https://bridgewise.com.
