Knowledge at Wharton

AI is changing what investors can analyze, how quickly they can act, and what it takes to find an edge.

Nikolai Roussanov, Moise Y. Safra Professor of Finance at Wharton, and Ingrid Tierens, Head of the Data Strategy team in the Global Investment Research division at Goldman Sachs, explore AI's expanding role in quantitative finance. They discuss how large language models and alternative data are transforming investment research, the competitive pressure AI creates across financial markets, and why human judgment remains essential when models encounter uncertainty.

They also consider the skills finance professionals will need in an AI-driven industry, from data literacy and technical fluency to communication, accountability, and the ability to ask better questions.
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What determines whether a cryptocurrency succeeds or fades into obscurity? In this episode, Wharton professor Itay Goldstein speaks with Shimon Kogan, adjunct associate professor of finance at Wharton and longtime instructor of Wharton’s fintech course, to explore the economic and behavioral forces behind token success. From network effects and user adoption to coordination challenges and the phenomenon of meme coins, this conversation dives into the mechanics of tokenomics and what drives value in the world of fintech.

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in early summer of 2025, shortly before the passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins. A lot has happened in the digital asset space since this discussion was recorded. But the broader ideas, philosophies, and questions we explore remain highly relevant today.

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Cryptocurrency has evolved from a niche experiment to a global financial force. But how did we get here? In this episode, professor Itay Goldstein is joined by Duke professor Campbell Harvey and Neha Narula, director of the MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative, to explore the milestones that led to crypto’s rise, the forces that shaped its growth, and what the crypto landscape will evolve into.

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in early summer of 2025, shortly before the passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins. A lot has happened in the digital asset space since this discussion was recorded. But the broader ideas, philosophies, and questions we explore remain highly relevant today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As cryptocurrency moves further into the mainstream, regulators are stepping up efforts to define its legal and financial framework. But how far will regulation go, and what will it mean for investors, businesses, and the future of digital assets? In this episode, professor Itay Goldstein is joined by Wharton professor Jessica Wachter, recently the chief economist at the SEC, and former CFTC chair Timothy Massad to discuss crypto’s evolving regulatory landscape, the balance between innovation and oversight, and the geopolitical forces shaping crypto policy worldwide.

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in early summer of 2025, shortly before the passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins. A lot has happened in the digital asset space since this discussion was recorded. But the broader ideas, philosophies, and questions we explore remain highly relevant today.

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Stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are at the center of a global shift in how money moves. In this episode, professor Itay Goldstein speaks with Heath Tarbert, president of Circle and former CFTC chair, about the role of stablecoins in modern finance, how they compare to CBDCs, and the regulatory frameworks needed to support their growth.

Editor’s Note: This episode was recorded in early summer of 2025, shortly before the passage of the GENIUS Act, which provides a regulatory framework for stablecoins. A lot has happened in the digital asset space since this discussion was recorded. But the broader ideas, philosophies, and questions we explore remain highly relevant today.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.