On-site photo

AsianFin -- Jany Hejuan Zhao, the founder and CEO of NextFin.AI, said last Saturday that innovation and social responsibility must move hand in hand in order to make tomorrow’s technology responsible and fair.

She made the remarks at the NEX-T Summit 2025 in Stanford University, which was hosted jointly by NextFin, GALA (Global Asian Leadership Alliance), Barrons’ China and TMTPost Group. The two-day conference kicked off on September 27, bringing together over 400 entrepreneurs, investors, scientists and media veterans.

Zhao, also the publisher of Barrons’ China, noted that the choices “we make in the coming years will shape decades ahead.”  

“Will AI empower humanity or divide us? Will the digital economy expand opportunities or deepen inequality? Will innovation chase only short-term gains or create long term fairness and value? I think these are big questions. And together we have both the responsibility and opportunities to shape the answers,” she said.

On-site photo

NextFin.AI was officially launched at the two-day tech and finance summit, one of most-anticipated events in Silicon Valley this fall.  “Today I'm also here in a new role as one of the founders of NextFin.AI. It was born in the age of AI agents. It is the world’s first AI agent platform for financial news and data analysis,” she declared.

“Every user can build their own personalized team of reporters and analysts. What makes this unique is that for the first time, individuals can break through their traditional information gap and access this kind of speed, depth and decision-ready insights that used to be available only to institutions,” the serial entrepreneur explained.

As the leading organizer of the two-day summit, she encouraged the audience to meet new people, share ideas, challenge assumptions, think not only about what is, but about what could be.

Zhao also called on the attendees to take actions after profound and thought-provoking discussions. “So, this next era of technology is not only powerful, but also purposeful,” she emphasized.

Fiona Ma, the 34th Treasurer of California, also welcomed the participants. “This summit brings together global leaders from technology, finance, venture capital and academia to exchange ideas and explore the future of innovation,” she noted. “As an advocate for entrepreneurs and cross-border collaboration, I deeply admire vision behind this event, empowering Asian innovators, amplifying diverse voices and building bridges between industries and communities.” 

Chiling Tong, the President & CEO of National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship, said the summit arrived at a “pivotal moment.”

“Across the world, artificial intelligence, new technologies and shifting global dynamics are transforming how we work, how we live and how we connect,” said Tong. “These changes bring extraordinary opportunities, but also profound changes. As Asian American leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and policy makers, we have a vital role to play not only in advancing technology and business, but also in building cultural bridges, strengthening trust and shaping an inclusive global future.

During the conference under the theme of the New Era of X-Technology, a galaxy of luminaries, including John Hennessy, the Chair of Google’s parent company Alphabet; Gary Gensler, the former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); and Michael Snyder, a pioneer in genomics, shared their insights on artificial intelligence, innovation, global cooperation and  governance. The discussions at the event sparked ideas that are set to shape the future of the tech industry.