Citi’s AI Agents Pilot: A Glimpse of Finance Workflows to Come

Citigroup has begun rolling out AI agents to 5,000 internal users. These agents go beyond simple chat or search; they can pull from internal and external sources, compile client research, translate documents, and deliver a finished output from a single prompt. Citi is carefully testing cost controls, but the scale of this pilot signals something bigger: large financial institutions are starting to operationalize AI agents across real-world workflows.

For the buy side, this matters. When banks like Citi embed agentic workflows at scale, it changes how research, sales, and client services are delivered, setting expectations for responsiveness, speed, and integration that ripple across the industry.

~Ryan Erickson, Founding Executive

TLDR: What you need to know about AI in Finance

• AppZen raises $180M: Riverwood Capital backs the finance automation firm to expand its AI “agents” for auditing, fraud detection, and back office operations.

• Atlassian acquires DX for $1B: The deal gives enterprises better visibility into how their teams are adopting AI and what ROI looks like across projects.

• SoftBank restructures Vision Fund: Cutting about 20 percent of staff while doubling down on AI infrastructure and high-growth finance-related plays.

Citi can build agents internally, but mid-sized firms face the same challenge: scattered data, wasted analyst time, and rising client expectations. Basis unifies your internal and external data, then layers on agents to make it usable.

BASIS AGENT OF THE WEEK: Five Minute Pitch Generator

Citi’s pilot shows how AI agents compress research into finished outputs. With Basis, firms get the same edge without the internal build. The Five-Minute Pitch Generator produces multiple versions of a stock pitch, including a five-minute pitch and a deep dive, by pulling from your research and trusted external data. It saves hours of prep and ensures every pitch is sharp and consistent.

Shift In New York on October 9th!

We’ll be exhibiting at The Summit Asset Management (TSAM) in New York

We’re excited to share that Shift will be exhibiting at TSAM New York. If you’re planning to attend, let us know. We have passes available and would love to connect in person.

About Shift
Investment research shouldn't be this hard. Shift turns your firm's scattered knowledge into powerful insights with AI built for how you actually work. We're a team of builders and finance experts based in Charlottesville, VA.