Brian Huddleston, CTO of Hapax: “The infrastructure built during the dot-com boom laid the groundwork for the internet’s rise, and now AI is the next evolution”

With a law degree and nearly 30 years of experience in tech under his belt, Brian Huddleston has a rare perspective on how complex systems fit together. Now CTO of Hapax, he’s leading the charge on building AI systems for banks, helping them safely embrace the new wave of technology.

Throughout our interview, it was clear that Brian sees a bright future ahead for AI, saying that it has the potential to make “individuals more effective and organisations more efficient”.

He adds that “AI will transform industries like healthcare, education and finance”, but it’s worth emphasising that he isn’t just talking about retrofitting AI into legacy systems though. Hapax’s systems aren’t bolted on, but tailored for financial institutions. With all this innovation, Brian is hopeful that it will lead to “setting a new standard for purpose-built AI solutions”.

He adds: “[AI’s] ability to revolutionise how we work, learn and innovate will drive a paradigm shift that will fundamentally reshape industries and societal structures, creating new possibilities for progress across every sector.” And while “tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have democratized access to AI, their broad, general-purpose nature doesn’t always align with the specific needs of certain sectors”.

When building new systems designed to last, you need to make sure that you’re always prepared for the next evolution. That’s why we started this interview by asking Brian what he believes is coming next…

What do you think will be the most significant changes in the IT industry over the next 5-10 years?

I think the most prominent change will be the increasing ubiquity and capability of AI, amplifying individual and organisational potential. This transformation is reminiscent of the early internet, which removed barriers to information sharing and accelerated innovation. AI will have a similar force multiplier effect, driving rapid advancements and reshaping industries across the board. The infrastructure built during the dot-com boom laid the groundwork for the internet’s rise, and now AI is the next evolution. Its power will accelerate the pace of change, bringing even faster advancements.

Which emerging technologie do you think will have the biggest impact on IT in the coming decade? 

Although recent advancements in quantum computing are exciting and make its practical use increasingly foreseeable, I’m most excited about the potential of AI. AI will amplify human capabilities, making individuals more effective and organisations more efficient. Its ability to revolutionise how we work, learn and innovate will drive a paradigm shift that will fundamentally reshape industries and societal structures, creating new possibilities for progress across every sector.

What ethical considerations do you believe will become more critical as IT continues to advance?

As IT continues to advance, one of the most critical ethical considerations will be ensuring that emerging technologies, like AI, are applied responsibly and accurately, particularly in highly regulated industries. As AI becomes more ubiquitous, ethical frameworks must evolve alongside these technologies to address new challenges.

For instance, while generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot have democratized access to AI, their broad, general-purpose nature doesn’t always align with the specific needs of certain sectors. In industries like finance, healthcare and legal services, using generalised AI models can lead to inaccuracies, biases and security risks, potentially violating ethical standards.

In what ways do you think IT will transform industries like healthcare, education, or finance?

AI will transform industries like healthcare, education and finance by empowering individuals and organisations to achieve more. In healthcare, AI will improve diagnostics and enable more personalised treatment plans, driving better patient outcomes. In education, AI will offer tailored learning experiences, helping students grasp complex concepts more effectively and at their own pace. In finance, AI will provide more accurate and personalised financial solutions, helping both consumers and institutions make better decisions.

A great example of how AI is transforming finance is Hapax, a purpose-built AI designed specifically for the financial services industry. Unlike general-purpose AI models, Hapax tailors its capabilities to the unique needs of banks, ensuring better accuracy, reducing biases and safeguarding sensitive data. This highlights the importance of creating industry-specific AI solutions that address the specific challenges and ethical considerations of each sector, ensuring that AI can be applied responsibly and effectively to drive innovation and better outcomes.

Are there any underestimated opportunities in IT that you believe deserve more attention? 

Despite the wide variety of tools available, we have yet to truly solve the collaboration challenge. While many platforms assist with basic coordination, such as scheduling, file sharing and task tracking, they don’t address the deeper complexities of teamwork. Effective collaboration requires overcoming challenges like decision-making, aligning diverse perspectives, fostering clear communication and maintaining a cohesive team dynamic, all while managing different work styles and priorities.

In the Hapax Document Vault, Hapax users can engage with Hapax to address issues and alerts related to regulatory compliance and collaborate with internal teams to ensure that the changes and updates are clear and aligned with strategy. In this product, customers comment back and forth with each other and with Hapax to solve any consistency or out-of-compliance issues.

Additionally, when Hapax prompts bankers to make a change to the document to remain in compliance with a state or federal regulation, and that change impacts a document in another area of the bank, Hapax alerts other staff in the bank that their document is no longer consistent with one that has changed

Can you share a project or innovation you’re currently working on that you believe has the potential to influence the future of IT? 

I’m currently working on purpose-built AI projects, with a focus on generative AI for synthesis and distillation to improve accuracy like Hapax, which I believe has the potential to influence the future of IT by setting a new standard for purpose-built AI solutions.

Hapax is designed specifically for banks and credit unions, leveraging 14 years of operational data from 96% of US financial institutions combined with customer-specific data. This results in tailored solutions that enhance decision-making, streamline operations and improve accuracy, with around 99% precision.

By serving as the “intelligence core” for banks, Hapax provides insights that empower decision-making while maintaining a human-centred approach. Rather than full automation, it supports nuanced, informed decisions in highly regulated environments. This focus on improving accuracy and reducing biases allows banks to adapt quickly, remain agile and drive innovation, while also ensuring security and compliance.

Since launching in April 2024, more than 20 banks have adopted Hapax, positioning it as a key player in transforming the financial sector. Its success underscores the power of specialised AI to reshape industries and drive the future of IT, particularly in fields that require deep expertise and regulatory sensitivity.

More interviews in the series

• Marc Lueck, CISO in Residence at Zscaler: “The next major shift in IT will centre around simplicity”
• Kevin Marcus, CTO at Versium: “Quantum computing may end up as a random answer generator”
• Sam Peters, Chief Product Officer at ISMS.online: “You may not think that AI is part of your role, but that’s not to say that it can’t and shouldn’t be used”