This short course offers a practical introduction to generative AI with a focus on banking and finance. It introduces the foundations of generative AI and large language models (LLMs), covers essential terminology and methods (e.g., fine-tuning, RAG, agentic systems), and discusses the core challenges facing the industry. The course also provides hands-on tactics to improve individual productivity and demonstrates how these technologies can be deployed in practice, with examples and an overview of common implementation hurdles.
The course comprises five one-hour lectures:
1. Introduction to Generative AI (2025-02-25)
2. LLMs 101: Tokens, Embeddings, Prompting & Retrieval (2025-03-04)
3. Applied Generative AI in Banking & Finance (2025-03-11)
4. Boosting Personal Productivity & Research (2025-03-18)
5. Frontiers, Risk & Regulation (2025-03-25)
TERM 1 (February 2026-March 2026)
Wednesday, 16:00-18:00, Room 636, Marshgate Building, UCLEast
