Future Finance

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Glenn Hopper and Paul Barnhurst discuss Anthropic's reported IPO plans, financial performance, and the future of AI profitability. They explore the company's reported S-1 filing, rapid revenue growth, infrastructure costs, and the risks of investing in AI companies.Glenn and Paul also explain how different revenue accounting methods affect financial reporting, whether current AI valuations are sustainable, and what finance professionals can learn from the industry's growth.Expect to LearnWhat Anthropic's reported IPO filing reveals about AI risks.How rising AI revenue and computing costs affect profitability.Why different accounting methods change reported revenue.What drives AI company valuations and investment risks.How AI is changing financial analysis and decision-making.The discussion highlights why finance professionals need to look beyond revenue growth and focus on profitability, cash flow, and long-term financial sustainability when evaluating AI companies.Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyDisclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode[00:00] - Introduction[04:26] - Anthropic's IPO & AI Industry Growth[08:54] - Major Risks in Anthropic's S-1 Filing[15:24] - Computing Costs & Infrastructure Risks[20:44] - Revenue Growth & Profitability[28:31] - Revenue Accounting: Principal vs. Agent[34:31] - AI Market Growth & Company Valuations[40:10] - Cash Flow & Long-Term Investment Risks[44:54] - The Future of AI Economics[49:52] - Closing Remarks & Thanks

In this episode of Future Finance, hosts Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss how AI is reshaping finance technology, whether traditional SaaS platforms are at risk, and how CFOs should approach software decisions. They explore when to buy existing solutions, build custom workflows, or use AI to improve finance processes without replacing core systems.In this episode, you will discover:How AI is changing the finance tech stack and challenging traditional SaaS.When finance teams should buy software or build custom solutions.What the Finance Stack Survey reveals about AI adoption.Why agentic AI differs from traditional automation.How data quality and integration affect AI success.Paul and Glenn explain that AI can help finance teams automate tasks, connect systems, and access financial information faster. However, businesses still need dependable core software, clear data practices, and appropriate safeguards.Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyDisclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[01:24] - Is SaaS at Risk?[03:38] - Choosing Core Finance Systems[05:52] - Buy vs. Build[07:55] - Finance Stack Survey[10:51] - Understanding Agentic AI[13:57] - AI Adoption & Software Satisfaction[18:36] - Data Plumbing & Integration Challenges[20:52] - Survey Findings & Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss how AI is changing the finance technology stack and what it means for CFOs deciding whether to buy new software, build custom solutions, or improve their existing systems. They explore whether AI could disrupt traditional SaaS platforms, where agentic AI is delivering value, and why core financial systems remain essential.In this episode, you will discover:Why AI is changing finance technology without replacing core systems.What the Finance Stack Survey reveals about AI adoption.The difference between agentic AI and traditional automation.When finance teams should buy software or build custom solutions.Why data quality, integration, and security matter for AI success.Paul and Glenn emphasize that finance leaders should focus on solving real business problems rather than chasing new technology. The key is choosing reliable tools, improving data connectivity, and using AI where it delivers meaningful value.Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyDisclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review.Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[00:00] - Trailer[04:21] - Is SaaS at Risk?[10:27] - Buy vs. Build: Filling the Gaps[11:09] - Finance Stack Survey Findings[14:00] - What Is Agentic AI?[18:20] - AI Adoption and Software Satisfaction[23:36] - Data and Integration Challenges[29:41] - Custom AI Solutions[36:17] - The Future Finance Stack[42:51] - Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss why finance professionals should stop chasing every new AI model and focus instead on building strong processes, durable skills, and better workflows. They also explore the race toward AGI, AI guardrails, and how quickly the technology landscape is changing.Paul and Glenn explain that the real advantage is not knowing every new model or benchmark. It is knowing how to use AI effectively, understand processes, and build systems that can adapt as the tools continue to evolve.In this episode, you will discover:Why keeping up with every new AI model is becoming impossible.Why process design matters more than chasing the latest tool.How AI is changing the way finance professionals work.Which AI skills are likely to remain valuable over time.Why governance and guardrails matter as automation increases.Paul and Glenn explain that finance professionals do not need to master every new AI release. Instead, they should choose useful tools, learn the fundamentals, and focus on building repeatable processes that can work across platforms.Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyFuture Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[00:58] - The Race for AGI[04:31] - AGI Risks, Regulation & Uncertainty[07:12] - AI Is Moving Too Fast[10:32] - Astra vs. Claude[15:09] - Secret CFO’s Take on AI Updates[21:38] - Wrap-Up

In this episode of Future Finance, Paul Barnhurst and Glenn Hopper discuss the accelerating pace of AI development and why trying to keep up with every new model is becoming a losing battle. They explore what finance professionals should focus on instead, including AI workflows, process design, data, governance, and automation.Paul and Glenn also discuss how AI is changing the way finance teams work. As tools become more capable, they believe the lasting advantage will come from knowing how to structure processes, give clear instructions, manage AI-powered workflows, and apply human judgment where it matters most.In this episode, you will discover:Why finance professionals should stop chasing every new AI model.Which AI skills are likely to remain valuable as tools continue to change.Why process thinking, data, and orchestration are becoming more important.What risks finance teams should consider when using vibe coding and automation.Why governance and human oversight still matter in AI-powered workflows.Paul and Glenn explain that finance professionals do not need to constantly switch tools to gain value from AI. Instead, they should focus on building strong processes that can work across different platforms as the technology continues to evolve. Follow Glenn:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gbhopperiiiFollow Paul:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thefpandaguyDisclosure: Portions of this episode (such as the introduction or promotional segments) use AI-generated voice narration produced under human editorial review. Future Finance is sponsored by QFlow.ai, the strategic finance platform solving the toughest part of planning and analysis: B2B revenue. Align sales, marketing, and finance, speed up decision-making, and lock in accountability with QFlow.ai. Stay tuned for a deeper understanding of how AI is shaping the future of finance and what it means for businesses and individuals alike.In Today's Episode:[00:00] - Welcome[02:21] - The Race for AGI[08:28] - AI Is Moving Fast[17:38] - Stop Chasing Models[19:43] - Durable AI Skills[25:03] - Data & Orchestration[28:08] - Vibe Coding Risks[32:18] - AI Governance[34:42] - The Cost of AI[42:07] - What to Focus On[44:35] - Closing Thoughts