2025 Industry Insights

"The Rise of Agentic AI – Navigating the Next Wave of Artificial Intelligence" explores the transformative potential of Agentic AI, a new generation of autonomous AI systems capable of achieving goals without constant human guidance. Building on the rapid adoption and success of Generative AI technologies, this document delves into the advancements, applications, and governance of Agentic AI. It highlights how these systems can revolutionise business operations, enhance efficiency, and address complex challenges, while also emphasising the importance of robust risk management and human oversight to ensure responsible and effective deployment.

The European Commission has proposed that it will move securities markets to a T+1 settlement cycle in October 2027. While the shift will apply to equities and other listed instruments, its implications go much further. For the funds industry, this development marks a significant moment – a clear indication that the wider settlement infrastructure is changing.

The OECD's Pillar 2 initiative introduces a global minimum tax rate of 15%, aiming to prevent profit shifting to low or no-tax jurisdictions. This article explores the key considerations for fund vehicles in the context of Pillar 2, providing insights into when funds could be regarded as in scope of the rules.

Assets in European ETFs have continued to grow over the last two decades and now stand at over $2.1 trillion. They are forecasted to rise 15% annually until 2030, reaching $4.5 trillion in AUM by then. Ireland is the domicile of choice for European ETFs with more than 70% of European ETFs domiciled here. This article explains the most common routes available for managers looking to enter the European ETF space.

As talent acquisition remains a critical challenge in financial services, organisations are discovering the strategic advantage of apprenticeship programmes. In this article, we explore how two Irish Funds member organisations are leveraging the FIT (Fast Track into Technology) Tech Apprenticeship programmes in Cybersecurity, Software Development and Computer Networking to build teams that blend fresh perspectives with industry-specific training.

In an era defined by rapid technological evolution, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a cornerstone of transformation across the investment industry. Amand Thind and Terri Dempsey from State Street discuss how beyond efficiency gains, AI has become a strategic enabler, offering asset managers the ability to optimize operations, enhance performance, and help deliver superior client outcomes.