Global Wealth Management Forum 2026 Shanghai Suhewan Conference was held in Shanghai from October 16 to 17, 2026, according to financial news on October 16. Eric JAN, President of Barings Greater China and Southeast Asia, attended the conference and delivered a speech.
Eric JAN stated that 95% of alternative investment institutions have already implemented generative artificial intelligence applications. Digital transformation is no longer something that might happen in the future. The core question is no longer whether technology will change the asset management industry, but how we can use this technology responsibly, efficiently, and competitively.
Eric JAN pointed out that a 2025 MIT NANDA project study showed that although enterprises have invested billions of dollars in generative artificial intelligence, approximately 95% of surveyed institutions have not yet demonstrated quantifiable financial returns or improvements on the profit and loss side. This conclusion does not deny the value of AI, but rather indicates that technology alone is not enough for success. Success depends on clear objectives, effective governance, integrating artificial intelligence into daily workflows, and close alignment with proprietary data and specific business needs.
Eric JAN reminded that AI can make individual companies more efficient, more disciplined, and more consistent in decision-making. However, if many institutions rely on similar models, homologous data, and similar signals, market behavior will tend toward synchronization. The biggest risk may not be that artificial intelligence reaches incorrect conclusions, but that many AI systems reach exactly the same conclusions at the same time. Artificial intelligence may reduce individual company risk while elevating systemic risk across the entire market. This further highlights the enduring value of human independent judgment, diversity of thinking, and differentiated investment processes. As artificial intelligence becomes more widely adopted, independent thinking may become increasingly important.
Where should we go from here? Eric JAN stated that we must invest in both technology and talent. Digital transformation is not only a technological challenge but also a talent challenge; we must bridge governance gaps through clear policies, robust controls, and responsible artificial intelligence frameworks; industry, regulators, and policymakers must work together. The institutions that will win are not necessarily those with the most powerful models, but those that integrate technology, differentiated data, rigorous governance, and reliable judgment.