A letter from Silicon Valley: A Year in Review and Exciting New Beginnings

By
  • Anne Karen Aanonli
Aug. 29 20244 min. read time
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Hi, my name is Anne Karen Aanonli, and for the past year, I've had the privilege of serving as VP of Technology Exploration at DNB, based in our Palo Alto Representative Office. My role as being the 'listening post,' is to ensure that DNB stays ahead in emerging technologies and identifying potential partnerships that could drive innovation, all from the heart of one of the world's most dynamic tech ecosystems: “Silicon Valley”.

Why Silicon Valley?

The purpose of DNB’s presence is to be at the heart of technological evolution. This proximity to the development enables us to identify and assess technologies that could redefine banking as we know it and by engaging directly with startups, enterprises, and academic institutions in this area, we are in a good position to spot new opportunities.

A year in review

I moved out here with my husband in June 2023 and my timing couldn’t have been better. Landing in the middle of the AI frenzy. Of course, there are several interesting and important technologies evolving, such as quantum computing and blockchain. But really, everything has been fading into the shadow of AI since 2022. With a potential so vast and suddenly a lot clearer for many people to see, after ChatGPT was launched. And I have been going through the emotions, first the excitement and optimism – which seems to align with the general feeling in Silicon Valley, optimism and a notion of GO!GO!GO!, then fear - because the experts cannot seem to agree on the threat level of this technology, the lacking number of individuals (if any) whom truly understands the technology, and the GO!GO!GO!-attitude, which at times, feels reckless. To landing somewhere in between the two extremes where I just don’t know. However, what I do know is that this year doesn’t feel so different from last year, and the year before. I might have more help writing blogposts, but the most important things in life are still people – and being out here talking to people will not be obsolete any time soon.

Hopes for the future

Instead of trying to predict the future I am here to talk about my hopes for the technology. My job is, after all, to look for opportunities. I hope that AI can make services more human again. We have been in the digital era where people have needed to learn the language of computers. My grandmother tells me every time I see her that we should stop changing things in her online bank (she doesn’t even use DNB, but still blames me personally for the changes to her online bank). She would rather go into a branch office and talk to a person, but she has no other choice, as all branch offices are closed in our hometown. She is so scared of making mistakes on her computer or being tricked (me too, being honest), as she didn’t grow up with computers. But now, computers are learning our human language. My hope for the future is for her not to have to deal with a computer interface ever again. She could just tell her AI assistant box (I really don’t know what shape it will be yet, maybe it’s a tiny, cute robot?) what she wants to do and then the AI assistant will do it for her. (AI box goes: “Hello Astrid! Your electrical bill has come in, this month it's 1043 NOK, do you want to pay it from your checking account?” Astrid: “Yes, please. How much do I have left on my checking account then?” AI box: “*a number*, your pension will be in on Friday, we can wait until then to pay the bill, would you rather wait?” Astrid: “No, I just want it to be done, pay it now!” AI box: “Are you sure?”. Astrid: “Yes!” Ai box: “Done! Your new balance is *different number*”)

For this to happen, we as a bank, have a lot of work to do, at least in terms of figuring out safe authentication in a world where AIs can impersonate just about anyone. But I think we can get there.

Exciting Immediate Future

Back to the here and now, for a year I have been working on my own here in California.

However, scouting for innovation is not a one-person job (in my opinion), especially when it comes to forming meaningful partnerships. That’s why I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be joined by my colleague, Martine Klock, for the next three months. Martine brings a wealth of experience in fostering strategic partnerships, and she’ll be focusing on how collaboration with innovative businesses can drive our bank’s evolution.

Together, we’ll be looking for partnerships that not only bring cutting-edge technology to our bank but also create value for our customers.

Looking ahead, our mission remains clear: to keep our finger on the pulse of technological advancements and to ensure that DNB stays ahead of the curve. With Martine on board, I’m confident that we’ll uncover even more exciting opportunities to innovate and grow.

Stay tuned for updates on our journey as we continue to explore, innovate, and collaborate in the ever-evolving world of technology.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of DNB.

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