Contour Asset Management AI Head Hari Kumar on Measuring AI ROI via Research A/B Tests
In a video interview, Hari Kumar, head of AI at Contour Asset Management, discusses how his firm measures the return on investment for AI tools. He describes running live A/B tests of analysts' research with and without AI, tracking "cost per useful insight," and using agents to resurface old ideas. The episode covers applications across trading, operations and compliance within a $6 billion tech-focused fund.
Hari Kumar, head of AI at Contour Asset Management, a $6 billion fundamental long/short fund focused on technology, media and telecom, addresses the challenge of quantifying AI's value in investment processes. In this video episode, he outlines how his team moves beyond anecdotal evidence by conducting live A/B tests of analysts' research outputs, comparing work produced with and without AI assistance.
Kumar details specific metrics such as "cost per useful insight" and the use of agents to resurface older investment ideas when market conditions change. The discussion extends to applying these evaluation frameworks across trading, operations and compliance functions, offering a structured approach to assessing AI adoption in a professional asset management context.