From Automation to Autonomy with Agentic AI
The most significant conversation at GFF 2026 centered on Agentic AI. This isn't just about chatbots answering queries. We are talking about AI systems that can sense, decide, and act on our behalf within secure frameworks. Imagine an AI agent that not
only tracks your spending but also books flight tickets and pays for them via UPI, a feature already launched by Amazon Pay at the event. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) also unveiled FiMI Banking, a compact AI model designed for Indian retail banking. This technology promises to make financial services highly personalised, automate complex workflows, and enhance fraud prevention in real-time. While the potential is immense, leaders like the RBI's Deputy Governor also urged caution, highlighting the need to manage risks associated with the speed and opacity of such advanced systems.
Tokenisation: Making Everything a Digital Asset
The second pillar of discussion was tokenisation. This technology transforms real-world assets—like property, stocks, or even art—into programmable digital units on a secure network. For the average person, this could mean easier fractional ownership of high-value assets, democratising investment opportunities that were previously out of reach. For the financial system, it promises instant settlement of transactions and the creation of new, interoperable forms of money. Major players like PhonePe and Visa announced collaborations at GFF 2026 to leverage tokenisation for more secure cardless payments, including cross-border transactions. This shift from physical to digital, programmable assets is fundamental, aiming to unlock liquidity and reshape how we think about capital markets and ownership.
Quantum and Security: The Trust Foundation
While Agentic AI and tokenisation are about immediate capability, the third key theme—Quantum—is about future-proofing the entire ecosystem. As our financial lives become entirely digital, the systems that protect them must be unbreakable. Quantum technology represents a long-term shift in both computing power and security. Discussions at GFF 2026 focused on its dual nature: the threat quantum computers could pose to current encryption standards and the opportunity they offer for building next-generation, quantum-safe security. Regulators and industry leaders stressed that as the fintech ecosystem scales, building and maintaining trust is paramount. As the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) vice-president noted, fintech firms must invest significantly in countering emerging technological threats to safeguard India's economic growth.
The Real Impact: Inclusive and Connected Finance
The official theme of GFF 2026 was “Potential to Impact: Trusted, Connected, Global Systems for Inclusive Finance.” This underscores the ultimate goal of all this technology. The focus is no longer on disruption for its own sake but on using these powerful tools to expand financial access responsibly. India's success with Digital Public Infrastructure like Aadhaar and UPI, which have brought hundreds of millions into the formal economy, serves as the foundation. The new wave of emerging fintech aims to build on this, offering more sophisticated services like AI-driven credit underwriting for MSMEs and hyper-personalised financial products for individuals in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. The consensus at GFF 2026 was clear: technology must serve the purpose of creating a more equitable, resilient, and connected financial world for everyone.
