EMBank CEO Sarp Demiray on the Future of Agentic AI
Artificial intelligence is undergoing a profound transformation. What began as systems trained to recognise patterns or generate text is now advancing into a new paradigm-Agentic AI, software agents capable not only of analysis but of independent action. In a new article published on LinkedIn Pulse, Sarp Demiray, Chief Executive Officer of European Merchant Bank (EMBank), discusses the opportunities and challenges this shift will bring to business, finance, and society.
Agentic AI refers to autonomous systems that can perceive, plan, decide, and act with minimal direct human guidance. The implications are wide-reaching. According to industry forecasts, by 2028, as much as 15% of everyday business decisions will be delegated to these agents, while a third of enterprise applications are expected to integrate agentic capabilities. This points to a fundamental change in how organisations operate and in how trust, responsibility, and oversight are defined.
Demiray’s analysis shows that adoption is already underway. Healthcare providers are trialling autonomous diagnostic tools with outcomes comparable to human experts. In manufacturing, agentic systems monitor equipment to predict failures and trigger maintenance. Financial services, however, stand to experience some of the most disruptive applications.
The concept of agentic payments illustrates the change vividly. Rather than waiting for staff to check invoices, reconcile data, or execute transactions, intelligent agents could manage the full cycle themselves. Treasury functions may become more dynamic, as systems autonomously balance liquidity across accounts or adjust transaction timings to optimise efficiency. Fraud prevention, traditionally a reactive approach, could evolve into proactive surveillance capable of halting transactions in real-time. While these applications could bring efficiency gains, they also introduce significant governance demands.
Demiray cautions that enthusiasm must not overshadow responsibility. He notes Gartner’s projection that more than 40% of agentic AI projects may be abandoned by 2027 due to weak governance or poor returns. To avoid this outcome, he emphasises the importance of strong oversight structures: audit trails for every action, defined levels of autonomy, and precise mechanisms for human override. Without such safeguards, the risk of misaligned or harmful outcomes becomes acute.
This focus on balance reflects EMBank’s approach as a digital-first financial institution. Headquartered in Lithuania and licensed by the European Central Bank, EMBank supports SMEs in Lithuania and fintechs worldwide with specialised financial products. The bank’s offering spans business accounts, trade and investment loans, international payments through SEPA and SWIFT, and embedded banking services for fintech partners. By combining innovative digital infrastructure with rigorous regulatory compliance, EMBank positions itself to navigate the same challenges highlighted in Demiray’s article.
The piece closes with a provocative question: Are we seeing the beginning of a shift as transformative as the industrial revolution? The efficiency, scale, and accessibility promised by Agentic AI are undeniable. Yet, if unchecked, these systems could amplify bias, reduce human interaction, and undermine accountability.
For Demiray, the conclusion is clear. Agentic AI must be treated not as a software upgrade but as a new category of actor in the economy. The task for banks, businesses, and regulators is to embed transparency, fairness, and human values into these systems from the outset. Only then can the benefits of autonomy be realised without compromising trust.
Read the full article on LinkedIn Pulse – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/agentic-ai-already-work-sarp-demiray-eebwf/
Company Name: European Merchant Bank (EMBank)
Contact Person: Dilek Isik
Email: dilek.isik@em.bank
Country: Lithuania
Address: Pirkliu Klubas, Gedimino 35, 01119, Vilnius, Lithuania
Website: https://em.bank/
European Merchant Bank (EMBank) is a specialised financial institution licensed by the European Central Bank and headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania. The bank supports SMEs and fintechs with regulated accounts, embedded financial infrastructure, payment processing, and credit solutions. EMBank operates in line with EU standards and participates in Lithuania’s deposit guarantee scheme.
Further information can be found at https://em.bank
This release was published on openPR.
