The Hive Mind: Q2 2026
The rise of AI has triggered endless predictions about which jobs will disappear first. Fund managers, distribution teams, analysts, marketers, journalists... The assumption is often the same: if technology can do something faster, cheaper or at greater scale, eventually it will replace the human behind it.
Investment management has never simply been an information industry. It is a relationship industry.
At its core, this sector is built on trust, judgement, credibility and connection. Clients do not allocate capital purely because of performance or polished presentations, they do so because they trust the people behind them. They want to understand how decisions are being made, and they want transparency, authenticity and consistency - in process and people.
Comments from the chief executive of Standard Chartered highlighted just how uncomfortable this debate is becoming. Bill Winters faced criticism after suggesting AI could replace “lower value human capital”, later apologising to staff after the remarks upset colleagues and sparked concern around how businesses increasingly view human capital.
He is not alone in confronting this tension. Across technology and financial services, companies have already laid off thousands of workers while citing AI-driven efficiencies and restructuring. Yet at the same time, some firms are discovering that implementing and scaling AI across businesses is neither simple nor cheap. In many cases, the cost of infrastructure, governance, oversight and specialist expertise far outweighs the comparatively modest salaries paid to junior staff whose roles are often framed as most at risk.
AI will undoubtedly reshape how we work - it already is as research can be accelerated, reporting can be streamlined, content can be produced at scale and processes that once took days can now take minutes. That shift is real, and ignoring it would be naïve.
But there is a difference between efficiency and trust.
The firms and individuals who thrive in the AI era are unlikely to be those trying to sound the most robotic or automated. Instead, the winners may be those who double down on what technology cannot easily replicate: human insight, emotional intelligence, lived experience and genuine connection.
Ironically, as AI-generated content becomes more common, authenticity may become even more valuable.
These themes were explored in greater depth at this year’s Investors ACT conference, where speakers discussed the opportunities, risks and unanswered questions surrounding AI’s growing influence on investment management. You can read more in this edition of Hive Mind or watch the session recordings on the ACT website.
The technology in our industry may be changing rapidly, but trust and people are still paramount.
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AI roundtable - AI is changing how organisations hire, manage and develop their people, and fast. For professionals in HR, people management, data protection, procurement or compliance, the expectation to understand what this means for your organisation is growing. The opportunities are real, but so are the risks.
Hosted with Simmons & Simmons, a leading firm in AI law and regulatory advice, our forthcoming roundtable offers an opportunity to take part in open discussion about the implications and impact of AI on HR and people management. The session offers an opportunity to hear from experts, whilst also engaging honestly with peers from across asset management to share experience, understand best practice, and build a practical understanding of a rapidly evolving and complex landscape.
This is an invitation only event. To register your interest, please contact hq@cityhive.co.uk.
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2025 has shown what this industry can achieve when we work collectively, boldly and with culture at the heart of our decision-making. We can’t wait to build on this momentum with you in 2026.
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