Fintech sitcom explores AI challenges and the war on talent

Daniel Tremayne-Pitter is the writer and creator of a new “The Office”-style sitcom about fintech. So far, the four-part pilot series has made of Dark Matter Media, has been well received – and more episodes are in the offing. The series focuses on the highs, lows and some of the challenges of working in the technology-based financial services environment – where communication, the use of data and AI, and the war on talent all have the potential to wreak havoc.

Head of Marketing Science and Technology Filmmaker Tremayne-Pitter specializes in combining social science with creativity and has extensive experience working with tech brands. We caught up with him to find out more.

Tell us about what inspired the fintech sitcom

The challenges people face when creating digital change or disrupting the market are often overlooked. Sometimes people may assume that digital products just “arrive”, but in reality there are complex relationships and challenges that happen behind the scenes.

It doesn’t take much digging to see that most technology vendors prefer to portray futuristic abstractions of AI in their marketing. Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and NVIDIA wanted to take a different approach. This was a rare opportunity to develop a creative platform that highlights the challenges people face, does real work and delivers real AI projects, all while sharing HPE and NVIDIA’s powerful joint proposition.

We committed to a research project, talking to people involved in or alongside AI/ML projects across the financial services industry. Our research focused on underlying emotions, behavior and culture.

This gave us first-hand insight into an AI project team dynamic – the role-specific challenges, the friction this causes and the daily struggles to get the job done.

A sitcom format gave us the perfect blend of familiar style and comedic tone to deliver an appropriate narrative.

Why have you focused on the four key characters?

It became clear through a series of interviews that different priorities, goals and professional worldviews created friction in the successful implementation of AI projects. Namely Data Scientists, IT, and industry roles. Despite friction, interviewees shared that AI is a team sport and it is important that the dynamics between these roles are fostered and developed to achieve AI success. We hoped to develop characters that resonated with the industry.

While the characters’ traits are clearly exaggerated, their role-based challenges reflect common problems described to us in our research.

The sitcom has a bit of an “The Office” feel to it. Is this the style you were aiming for?

The style of the production was certainly inspired by sitcoms like “The Office”, as a memetic vehicle. It is embedded in popular culture, giving audiences a sense of familiarity.

The voyeuristic style captured the professional behavior and challenges we were trying to portray. Conversely, the interview outbursts allow the characters to reveal “personal” concerns or frustrations that are often masked by professional demeanor.

What message are you conveying with this project?

That HPE and NVIDIA understand the sometimes difficult relationships between roles and priorities. The series highlights the need for greater collaboration and professional empathy when choosing a suitable technology platform or solution.

Our ambition has always been to stimulate conversation between HPE and industry professionals. We firmly believe that if we can entertain, we can earn, rather than assume, the opportunity to discuss solutions with the industry. At the end of the day, people are all trying to “get ahead” of their challenges – and the best way to do that might be some self-reflection between AI project teams and vendors.

How has the reception been?

We are delighted that the series has been cited as innovative in its approach and has resonated with individuals delivering AI in financial services. Is it marketing? Yes. Is it entertaining? It looks that way. So far it has been recognized as a relatable world that hits familiar challenges.

In fact, demand for a “Talking Stick”, featured in the season finale, is already growing! It seems the idea of ​​sharing your ‘AI Talking Stick Truth’ is appealing!

The war on talent and IT/AI challenges is a recurring theme – what is the story behind it?

Our research recognized the challenge of finding relevant AI/ML skills. We heard how the ‘tech giants’ can often appear as a more innovative space for young professionals – and their CVs. Encouraging new talent to consider a career in financial services, with access to next-generation AI tools and connected data and AI strategies, became a consistent priority.

Of course, the developer market is a challenge across many industries that we research.

How many episodes are planned at this stage – and will we see more?

The pilot season is only four episodes long, but we hope to be in production for a new season soon. As part of our production process, we are always on the lookout for new stories and observations. We welcome conversations with anyone who has an experience they would like to share!