Microsoft Partners With Fintech Startup ZestFinance To Bring Transparency To AI-Powered Financial Models

Microsoft said Wednesday that it is entering a strategic partnership with financial technology startup ZestFinance to make it easier for its financial services customers to adopt AI and machine learning tools. The software giant provides different tools used by financial institutions that range from cloud services to Office. The partnership will integrate ZestFinance's artificial intelligence tools with Microsoft products like its Azure cloud computing service. "We're working with them closely around banking and fraud detection, algorithmic trading, and how they can use AI and deep learning," Ed Fandrey, Microsoft's vice president for financial services, U.S., says. For Microsoft, what Zest brings to the table is explainability.