Peter Cousins is the Chief Technology Officer at WorkFusion, where he leads the company’s efforts to innovate and grow its AI-driven products. With a background that includes CTO roles at Bottomline Technologies, Operative, and IBM, Peter has spent much of his career bringing artificial intelligence into practical use, especially in fields like banking and compliance. His experience centers on transforming advanced technology into tools that solve real-world problems, building AI systems designed to tackle complex challenges such as financial crime.

In this episode, Peter explores how AI agents—sometimes called digital workers—go beyond simple automation to work alongside humans on complicated, detail-oriented tasks. He discusses how these systems are used to combat financial crimes like money laundering and human trafficking by supporting important processes such as sanctions screening and real-time transaction monitoring. Peter also touches on the importance of trust in AI, highlighting how cautious automation and clear explanations help ensure that these tools meet the strict demands of regulated industries. Throughout the conversation, he stresses moving past the hype around AI to focus on practical, disciplined approaches that expand human abilities instead of replacing them.