As we wrap up 2024, PYMNTS’ “What’s Next in Payments” series has provided insights from industry leaders on the current and future state of play for banking, payments and the connected economy. Here are five thought-provoking comments from executives that stood out this year, offering a glimpse into the future of finance in 2025 from the series. Future of Generative AI

As payments become faster, fraudsters hide behind anonymity or concoct identities that seem legitimate, and then scam banks, merchants and individuals out of their money. Among the most effective ways of stopping would-be criminals in their tracks is using advanced technologies and collaboration to spot red flags before the money ever leaves an account — to take action, in other words, upstream. Data — from continuous verification to location to device-level details — is critical, and real-time analysis can help block fraudulent transactions

The success of the gig economy hinges on its underlying digital ecosystem, particularly APIs, which power real-time services like Uber and Fiverr. But APIs are vulnerable to misuse, with advanced threats such as scraping, account takeovers and fraud intensified by generative artificial intelligence, TechNative reported. Platforms face a variety of risks, including data theft, payment manipulation and business logic abuse. To combat these threats, businesses must implement API security strategies that detect and block AI-driven attacks, ensuring the integrity and trust of their platforms as the gig economy continues to grow. Gig Economy Growth and the Rising Need for Fraud Prevention