You know, we spend a lot of time talking about how artificial intelligence will reshape the way advisors do their jobs.
But I'm not sure we've put in enough time into thinking about what AI will look and sound like. And certainly not enough time thinking about what it's going to wear.
Unless you're Morningstar, that is. Earlier this month, the company introduced us to "Mo," their new OpenAI-powered buddy that jams a deep well of Morningstar research into a snazzy company sweater and what I assume are some very sensible shoes.
I have to take a guess on the footwear. Mo doesn't have any feet in the iteration that greeted attendees of the recent Morningstar Investment Conference on stage alongside company CEO Kunal Kapoor.
I had the chance to catch up with Morningstar's chief technology officer, James Rhodes, to dig deeper on what makes Mo so special. One of his favorite things about Mo? His absolutely terrible memory.
But it's an intended character flaw, one that Rhodes says drives home Morningstar's commitment to responsible use while developing the cutting edge tool.
Safety concerns about data privacy are taking center stageas several AI pioneers come forward to issue warnings about the tech, and Rhodes says those are concerns they do not take lightly.
"I've seen so many things trying to capitalize on the hype cycle. And I'm not sure everybody does it in a responsible way. And it's super important, from my perspective, that this isn't just a rush to get your name out," Rhodes said. "You need to think about your clients, and you need to think about their data, and the security and privacy of it."
With that in mind, AI will be a major topic during both days of Financial Planning's annual INVEST conference, which will be here before you know it! A panel on conversational AI; discussion on how these tools can support both advisors and clients; and an artificial intelligence roundtable are all on tap when INVEST kicks off June 12-13 at Hilton Midtown in New York City.
We're under a month away, so register today! Special pricing is also now available for advisors and tech professionals.
Anything else on your mind? Drop me a line at [email protected]. Have a great holiday weekend!
Regards,
Justin

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