The asset management landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, fueled by the rapid adoption of generative and agentic AI. Firms are increasingly leveraging these technologies to optimize operations, refine investment decision-making, and identify novel sources of alpha – a key metric for evaluating an investment strategy’s ability to outperform the market. This trend is underscored by the recent strategic alliance between Franklin Templeton and Wand AI, signaling a significant move toward more autonomous and data-driven investment processes.
Franklin Resources, operating as Franklin Templeton, has partnered with Wand AI, an enterprise AI platform, to deploy agentic AI across its global operations. Wand AI’s Autonomous Workforce and Agent Management technologies are enabling Franklin Templeton to implement agentic AI at scale, accelerating data-driven insights within its investment processes. This represents a strategic effort to enhance efficiency and gain a competitive edge in an increasingly complex market.
The collaboration has progressed from initial pilot programs to fully operational AI systems, solidifying the partnership. While the initial focus was on high-value AI applications within Franklin Templeton’s investment teams, both entities now envision a broader deployment of intelligent agents across various departments. This phased approach facilitates a controlled integration of AI, allowing for iterative improvements and risk mitigation.
Looking ahead to 2026, Franklin Templeton plans to further expand the use of Wand AI’s intelligent agents, a strategic initiative designed to drive digital transformation and enhance investment research capabilities. This expansion reflects a long-term commitment to leveraging AI as a core component of its operational strategy.
Franklin Templeton emphasizes the importance of responsible AI management, implementing strict oversight, compliance measures, and risk controls to maintain trust and transparency. Vasundhara Chetluru, Head of AI Platform at Franklin Templeton, stated, “With strong governance in place, we are demonstrating that AI can deliver secure, scalable, and measurable value.” This focus on governance is crucial for ensuring ethical and regulatory compliance in the deployment of AI solutions.
Rotem Alaluf, CEO of Wand AI, articulated the company’s AI vision, stating their mission is to “elevate AI from experimental technology to a fully integrated, adaptive workforce that drives enterprise-wide transformation and delivers significant business impact.” Wand AI’s perspective highlights the potential of AI to revolutionize business processes across various industries.
Alaluf emphasizes that AI agents can “seamlessly collaborate with human teams and operate at scale in complex, highly regulated environments to achieve transformative results,” provided they are “properly governed, orchestrated, and deployed as a unified agentic workforce.” This underscores the importance of a holistic and integrated approach to AI implementation.
AI Takes Center Stage in Asset Management
Franklin Templeton is not alone in its embrace of AI. Goldman Sachs, another major player in the financial sector, has also implemented AI at scale. CEO David Solomon has identified AI as a key driver of economic growth, characterizing the opportunity presented by the technology as “enormous.”
According to a Goldman Sachs report titled “AI: In a Bubble?”, the company estimates that generative AI could generate US $20 trillion of economic value in the long term. The report further suggests that AI has the potential to drive a 15% increase in US labor productivity if adopted at scale. These projections highlight the significant economic potential of AI across various sectors.
In June 2025, Goldman Sachs expanded its AI initiatives by launching a generative AI assistant within the firm, joining a growing number of major banks already utilizing the technology for operational enhancements. The GS AI assistant is designed to assist with tasks such as drafting initial content, performing data analysis, and summarizing complex documents. This has reportedly improved productivity within teams, enabling employees to focus on higher-value strategic tasks.
These initiatives represent a shift away from niche AI applications and pilot projects toward enterprise-wide deployments within major institutions, ultimately aimed at enhancing productivity and operational efficiency. The integration of AI into core business processes marks a significant step toward realizing the full potential of the technology.
While David Solomon acknowledges the “enormous” opportunity presented by AI, he also emphasizes the potential for both “winners and losers.” He cautions that certain capital investments in AI may not yield the desired returns, stressing the importance of due diligence in AI investments. This underscores the need for careful planning and strategic execution in the adoption of AI technologies.
Solomon has also noted the transformative impact of technology on the composition of the Goldman Sachs workforce over the past two decades. The bank now employs 13,000 engineers, illustrating the shifting demand for specialized skills. He suggests that rather than jobs disappearing altogether, economies and workforces are adapting to technological advancements. “At the end of the day, we have an incredibly flexible, nimble economy. We have a great ability to adapt and adjust,” he stated.
“Yes, there will be job functions that shift and change, but I’m excited about it. If you take a three-to-five-year view, it’s giving us more capacity to invest in our business,” he concluded. This optimistic outlook reflects a belief that AI will ultimately drive innovation and create new opportunities for economic growth.
The examples of Goldman Sachs and Franklin Templeton exemplify a broader trend within the financial industry: the accelerated adoption of AI technologies. Solomon observed that “I can’t find a CEO that I’m talking to, in any industry, that is not focused on how they can re-imagine and automate processes in their business to create operating efficiency and productivity.” This widespread focus highlights the transformative potential of AI across industries and the increasing importance of understanding and leveraging these technologies.
Original article, Author: Samuel Thompson. If you wish to reprint this article, please indicate the source:https://aicnbc.com/13091.html
