Grid Dynamics hosts XT26 forum on AI volatility in finance
Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. hosted XT26 in London, gathering over 250 senior technology leaders to discuss AI's impact on financial services. The event focused on AI ROI, regulatory compliance, and scaling delivery, featuring practitioners from major banks like Deutsche Bank and JP Morgan. Sessions covered AI strategy, low-latency development, and platform engineering.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Grid Dynamics Holdings, Inc. hosted XT26, an invite-only forum focused on the volatility of AI in financial services, convening over 250 senior technology leaders from banking, hedge funds, and capital markets at Tower Hill, London. The event addressed critical questions capital markets technology leaders are navigating, including where AI delivers genuine ROI, how to build software systems that withstand regulatory scrutiny, and how to manage the complexity of accelerating delivery at scale. The forum provided a platform for practitioners to share real-world experiences without sales pitches or vendor presentations.
Key Attendees and Speakers
The conference featured speakers and delegates from major global financial institutions and technology organizations. The participation highlighted the industry's focus on navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by AI adoption in capital markets.
| Organization | Type |
|---|---|
| Bank of America | Banking |
| Citi | Banking |
| HSBC | Banking |
| UBS | Banking |
| RBC | Banking |
| Barclays | Banking |
| JP Morgan | Banking |
| Morgan Stanley | Banking |
| NatWest | Banking |
| Deutsche Bank | Banking |
| Meta | Technology |
| FINOS | Organization |
| Griffin Bank | Banking |
Conference Agenda and Focus
XT26's agenda centered on practical applications of AI in financial services. Sessions spanned AI adoption strategy, low-latency development, platform engineering in large financial institutions, and the limits of agentic software development. An expert panel closed the main program by addressing the central question: "How Far Can We Accelerate with AI?" The discussions were led by senior practitioners responsible for building and operating systems at scale within the financial sector.
Industry Perspective
Jon Pither, CEO at JUXT, a Grid Dynamics company, emphasized the importance of the gathering. "XT26 brought together the engineering leaders who are closest to these problems, the people building and maintaining software systems under real regulatory pressure," Pither said. "That is the conversation financial services needs to be having right now, and it is exactly what this event delivered."
Simone Steel, CIO Data & AI at Deutsche Bank, also highlighted the value of the practitioner-focused forum. "I truly enjoyed XT26 and learned a lot from every speaker," Steel said. "The corporate world doesn't always make space for rigorous engineering, which is exactly why a forum built around financial sector practitioners feels so necessary."
About Grid Dynamics
Grid Dynamics (NASDAQ: GDYN) is an AI transformation partner for the Fortune 1000. The company combines AI expertise with enterprise-scale delivery to help clients identify AI investments, build scalable systems, and capture business value. Founded in 2006, Grid Dynamics is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices across the Americas, Europe, and India.
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