AI’s expanding role in payments, commerce and revenue growth

Laurent Cochet, founder and CEO of AI InterConnect, recently spoke with The Green Sheet about the rapid evolution of AI, the growing importance of executive visibility and how businesses can use strategic communications to build authority in a changing marketplace. Following are highlights from our exclusive interview.

What originally inspired you to launch the AI InterConnect Podcast?

The original idea behind AI InterConnect was simple: create real conversations with operators, founders, and executives building practical AI systems in the real world.

I noticed that many AI discussions online were either overly technical or too promotional. I wanted to build a platform focused on honest business conversations. What is actually working? What problems are founders trying to solve? Where is AI creating value versus noise?

The podcast became a way to connect ecosystems that are increasingly overlapping: payments, fintech, proptech, SaaS, infrastructure, automation, and AI. I also wanted to create a long-term network of people shaping the future of commerce and operations.

You’ve interviewed leaders from across payments, fintech, embedded finance and AI. What consistent themes or concerns have you heard from guests on your show?

One consistent theme is that businesses are overwhelmed by fragmentation and complexity.

Founders and operators are dealing with too many disconnected tools, too much operational noise, and constant pressure to move faster while staying compliant and secure.

Another major theme is trust. Whether the discussion is about payments, AI agents, embedded finance, or customer onboarding, trust remains central. Companies are realizing that speed alone is no longer enough. Reliability, transparency, security, and communication quality matter more than ever.

I also hear a growing concern around positioning. Many companies are using similar language around AI, automation, and efficiency. Differentiation is becoming harder, especially as AI-generated messaging increases.

Have any guest viewpoints surprised you or changed the way you think about AI’s role in commerce?

Absolutely.

One thing that surprised me was how many experienced operators see AI less as a replacement layer and more as an augmentation layer.

The strongest founders are not trying to remove humans entirely. They are trying to remove friction, repetition, delays, and operational bottlenecks while keeping human judgment in critical parts of the process.

Several guests also changed how I think about AI infrastructure. AI is no longer isolated software. It is becoming embedded inside workflows, compliance systems, onboarding, payments, logistics, customer support, and risk analysis simultaneously.

That shift from standalone AI tools to embedded operational intelligence is probably one of the biggest transformations happening right now.

Based on recent conversations, what opportunities are you seeing for AI in payments and embedded commerce?

I see major opportunities in three areas.

First, operational efficiency. AI can reduce manual review processes, accelerate onboarding, improve fraud detection, and simplify compliance workflows.

Second, personalization and intelligent communication. Payments companies are sitting on enormous amounts of behavioral and transactional data. AI can help transform that into better customer experiences, support, retention, and product positioning.

Third, infrastructure orchestration. Embedded commerce is becoming increasingly complex, and AI can help businesses manage integrations, workflows, routing, risk monitoring, and partner ecosystems much more dynamically.

I also believe we are still early in AI-powered B2B relationship management. There is enormous potential there.

Looking ahead over the next three to five years, what developments in AI-driven commerce or embedded payments do you believe will have a lasting impact on the industry and world?

I believe we’ll see a shift from AI as a feature to AI as operational infrastructure.

Companies that survive and scale will not simply “use AI.” They will redesign parts of their organizations around AI-assisted decision systems.

We’ll likely see: • AI-native onboarding and underwriting • Real-time fraud prevention systems • Autonomous operational workflows • Hyper-personalized commerce experiences • AI-assisted negotiations and customer support • Embedded financial infrastructure becoming invisible to end users

At the same time, I think trust and governance will become even more important. The companies that balance automation with transparency and accountability will win long term.

Recent Payments-Related Podcast Episodes:

Viggo Stenseth – SolvaPay - Sweden www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eo7pGiykcEc&t=3s Agentic commerce, embedded payments, AI-native financial infrastructure, and the future of autonomous transaction systems.

Massimo Barone – SmartCard Marketing Systems - US www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aioyi90e1mg&t=27s Payments innovation, loyalty systems, merchant engagement, smart card ecosystems, and the evolution of customer retention technology.

Gary Recheck – XPay World - Philippine www.youtube.com/watch?v=7342mhMosZ4&t=259s Discussion around global payments infrastructure, AI-enabled commerce, embedded finance, and reducing friction in cross-border transactions.

Ajmal Samuel – FTS Money - Hong Kong www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpMkkLkbjlo&t=1274s Deep dive into fintech infrastructure, compliance, trust-building in payments, and scaling global financial systems across emerging markets.

David Levy Maduro – CX Pay - Curacao Caribbean www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAQQIK5t-yU&t=1s Conversation around payment ecosystems, operational bottlenecks, embedded commerce, and AI-driven customer experiences.

John Cetina – Ardeco - US LatAm www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CMWZHFmv-Y&t=165s Focused on payment innovation, strategic growth, merchant ecosystems, and how AI is reshaping operational efficiency in commerce.

Ousmane Conde – WODI - US www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePfvHXsVuf8&t=325s Discussion around scaling merchant ecosystems, community-driven growth, AI-supported operations, and infrastructure challenges in emerging markets.

For more information, visit: www.youtube.com/@AI-InterConnect

About AI Interconnect

AI is reshaping how companies build credibility, reach decision-makers and compete for attention in crowded markets. AI InterConnect helps B2B technology, fintech, PropTech, payments and retail SaaS firms harness that shift through AI-driven outreach, executive podcast placements and strategic media distribution campaigns designed to elevate industry visibility and strengthen thought leadership. By combining precision targeting with authentic storytelling, the firm positions executives as trusted voices while helping clients expand market presence and generate measurable growth across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

• Website: www.aiinterconnect.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurentcochet/
• AI InterConnect LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aiinterconnect-podcast/
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@AI-InterConnect
• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/1ORDY0RtZF5Jrr9ZtbWKUT
• Substack Blog & Newsletter: laurentcochet.substack.com
• Medium: Medium Authority Magazine

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