In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss the AI landscape and how CFOs and finance leaders should approach AI in 2026. Reflecting on the developments of 2025, they explore how AI adoption is progressing at the individual and company levels and discuss the surprises and challenges they've encountered in the AI space.

Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The current state of AI adoption by individuals and companies.
2. Surprising shifts in AI companies like OpenAI and Microsoft in 2025.
3. The growing role of specialized AI models and their potential impact on industries like finance.
4. Predictions for the future of AI in 2026, including advancements in LLMs and robotics.

Glenn and Paul discussed the evolving AI landscape and its impact on finance, offering insights into key developments and predictions for 2026. They highlighted the challenges, growth, and opportunities AI presents for finance leaders and businesses.

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[00:15] - Reflections on AI in 2025

[05:07] - Paul’s Surprises on AI’s Progress

[11:05] - OpenAI’s Consumer Focus

[13:23] - Predictions for Specialized Models

[14:51] - AI and Robotics

[17:20] - Small vs Large Models

[18:28] - Closing Thoughts on AI in Finance

In this first episode of Future Finance for 2026, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper take time to reflect on how AI actually showed up in finance over the past year, and what that means going forward. Without a guest, the conversation focuses on real experiences, observations, and lessons from working directly with finance teams, CFOs, and operators who are navigating AI adoption day to day.

Paul and Glenn discuss how individuals have become far more comfortable using AI tools in their own work, while companies as a whole have moved much more slowly. Topics include ongoing data quality problems, hesitation around governance and security, and why many organizations still struggle to integrate AI into core systems and workflows. They also share their thoughts on notable developments from 2025, including OpenAI’s shift toward consumer use, Microsoft Copilot’s mixed results, Google Gemini’s rapid improvement, and Nvidia’s continued growth.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. How AI adoption differs between individuals and organizations
2. Why poor data quality still limits many finance teams
3. What recent changes from OpenAI, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia suggest
4. Where Microsoft Copilot works well today and where it falls short
5. Why automation and basic app-building are becoming more important

Paul and Glenn share concrete examples from Excel, Outlook, reporting, and close processes. They also emphasize that banning AI use is no longer realistic and that clear guidelines matter more than strict restrictions.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[02:47] – How Individuals vs. Companies Used AI in 2025

[06:12] – OpenAI, Monetization, and Market Signals

[09:27] – Google Gemini’s Turnaround

[15:56] – Big Models vs. Specialized Tools

[21:21] – Consumer AI and Platform Control

[26:26] – Real Copilot Use Cases in Excel

[35:28] – What Finance Professionals Should Focus on in 2026

[39:31] – What Finance Leaders Need to Do Now

[41:45] – Automation, Vibe Coding, and What’s Next

[43:07] – Final Thoughts and Closing

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper sit down with Sasha Orloff, CEO of Puzzle, to discuss the future of accounting and how AI is poised to transform the finance industry. Sasha Orloff shares his journey from founding LendUp and Mission Lane to building Puzzle, an innovative accounting software platform designed to solve the industry’s most pressing challenges.

Sasha Orloff is the CEO of Puzzle, a modern accounting software platform focused on building the future of finance. Before Puzzle, Sasha Orloff founded LendUp and Mission Lane, which both scaled to hundreds of millions in revenue. He has a deep background in finance, technology, and AI, and his insights are helping to shape the next wave of innovation in the industry.

In this episode, you will discover:

1. The challenges of traditional accounting systems and outdated software
2. How AI and predictive analytics can streamline financial tasks and improve decisions
3. The need for an evolving general ledger and the role of blockchain in enhancing transparency
4. How AI reduces errors and provides more accurate insights for finance professionals
5. The future of accounting and how AI will enable faster, smarter decision-making

Sasha Orloff explains how Puzzle is addressing the foundational issues with traditional accounting software by focusing on trust, transparency, and flexibility. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of building the right data infrastructure to enable AI-driven insights in finance.

Join hosts Glenn and Paul as they unravel the complexities of AI in finance.

Follow Sasha:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashaorloff/

Company: https://www.linkedin.com/company/puzzlefin/

Follow Glenn:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiii

Follow Paul:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguy

Follow QFlow.AI:

Website - https://bit.ly/4i1Ekjg

Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai.

Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.

In Today’s Episode:

[01:00] - Meet Sasha Orloff

[03:30] - The Problem with Traditional Accounting Software

[06:00] - The Future of the General Ledger and Data Transparency

[10:30] - How AI Enhances Finance and Accounting Tasks

[12:45] - Blockchain’s Role in Financial Trust

[17:30] - The Role of AI in Business Decision-Making

[20:00] - How Puzzle is Revolutionizing...