Yahoo Finance Executive Editor Brian Sozzi sat down with Affirm (AFRM) CEO Max Levchin at the Goldman Sachs Communicopia and Tech Conference to discuss the evolution of the company's business beyond a buy now, pay later (BNPL) solution and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI).

Levchin says the company is “moving from startup mode to growth mode” in its next phase as a financial services company, noting that its offerings have expanded beyond BNPL.

“We're much more than BNPL,” the CEO tells Sozzi, saying the company is “payments first and foremost” as a financial services business with a “deep relationship with consumers.”

Looking forward, Levchin says Affirm is working to “build a modern answer” to American Express (AXP) as a payment system with a "real pro-consumer attitude.” The CEaysO s Affirm's next steps are getting bigger with more services, consumers, and merchants.

Levchin also discusses his views on AI and how Affirm is leveraging the technology. The CEO defines himself as a "techno-optimist," saying that "the future of AI, as far as I can see, and that is what we're doing at Affirm, is more productivity.”

He states the company will use AI to make employees more productive rather than replace jobs. Levchin notes that he's “optimistic but also pragmatic" about the risks associated with AI.

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This post was written by Naomi Buchanan.