About Jean-François Mazaud: Currently COO France and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, he drives operational strategy and innovation, with a strong background in banking transformation and management.
About Morgan Stanley: A global leader in financial services, providing investment banking, securities, wealth management, and investment management.
How does Morgan Stanley define and utilize AI today?
Jean-François Mazaud: Defines AI not merely as a tool, but as a critical “catalyst for growth, for innovation and for client centricity.” He reveals an exceptionally high penetration rate, stating that 98% of employees currently use at least one AI tool. The firm is “obsessed” with the effective transmission of these techniques to partners and stakeholders to maintain their competitive edge in a fast-moving market.
How do you address the concern that AI will replace jobs?
Jean-François Mazaud: Reframes the issue from replacement to augmentation, emphasizing that AI enhances capacity without sacrificing “reasoning power.” He argues that future winners will be those who master the tool while maintaining superior reasoning abilities. The strategy is to “push business in a smart fashion,” where skilled talent is selected and trained to leverage technology for efficiency, ensuring human oversight remains central.
As a senior executive, how do you personally adopt AI in your daily workflow?
Jean-François Mazaud: Uses AI primarily to streamline communication and cut through “organizational noise,” ensuring he reaches counterparties in the most optimal, rapid way. His key use cases include meeting preparation, summarization, and accelerated information retrieval to be “smarter” in interactions. He stresses that a lack of engineering background is no barrier to adoption and that management must “lead by example” to drive culture.
What is the role of the local AI task force in France?
Jean-François Mazaud: Uses AI primarily to streamline communication and cut through “organizational noise,” ensuring he reaches counterparties in the most optimal, rapid way. His key use cases include meeting preparation, summarization, and accelerated information retrieval to be “smarter” in interactions. He stresses that a lack of engineering background is no barrier to adoption and that management must “lead by example” to drive culture.
What is your concluding outlook on AI in France?
Jean-François Mazaud: Expresses pride in the “smooth” and positive adoption of AI by French employees, particularly regarding conversational tools. He positions France as a key player in the global AI landscape, citing the exceptional quality of local scientists and the high level of innovation, which Morgan Stanley France intends to showcase to global stakeholders.
France as a Strategic Hub: The conversational nature of next-gen AI plays to France’s strengths in scientific innovation, positioning the region as a center of excellence for the firm.
