Data is the Secret Sauce: Why AI Success in Financial Services Isn't About the Model
Thu Feb 05 2026
In Formula One, the drivers are the best in the world, all elite. The difference? The car.
The same is true for AI. Tim Brophy, Principal Solution Architect at Elastic, argues the model wars are a distraction. The real differentiator is your data platform — and most financial institutions aren't ready.
In this conversation, we discuss:
• Why AI is forcing the unified data issue in financial services
• A European bank's decade-long journey from fragmented systems to AI-ready infrastructure
• The difference between conversational AI and agentic AI — and where each belongs
• How to implement AI responsibly without waiting for standards
• Why "thinking small" is the path to real value
The takeaway: You can have the best model in the world. Without the right data platform, you can't win the championship.
Tim Brophy https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbrophy/
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In Formula One, the drivers are the best in the world, all elite. The difference? The car. The same is true for AI. Tim Brophy, Principal Solution Architect at Elastic, argues the model wars are a distraction. The real differentiator is your data platform — and most financial institutions aren't ready. In this conversation, we discuss: • Why AI is forcing the unified data issue in financial services • A European bank's decade-long journey from fragmented systems to AI-ready infrastructure • The difference between conversational AI and agentic AI — and where each belongs • How to implement AI responsibly without waiting for standards • Why "thinking small" is the path to real value The takeaway: You can have the best model in the world. Without the right data platform, you can't win the championship. Tim Brophy https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbrophy/