Improved Unarmed Combat

Would not using unarmed attack qualify as an Operative weapon in relation to "trick attacks". The reasoning that I see is that in the Pathfinder system, natural weapons are considered finesse weapons. And Operative weapons are as close to weapon finesse items as I see it. So in conclusion would Improved Unarmed attacks be able to use Operative Trick attacks?

Would not using unarmed attack qualify as an Operative weapon in relation to "trick attacks". The reasoning that I see is that in the Pathfinder system, natural weapons are considered finesse weapons. And Operative weapons are as close to weapon finesse items as I see it. So in conclusion would Improved Unarmed attacks be able to use Operative Trick attacks?

Given Pathfinder explicitly calls unarmed strikes out as light weapons, but Starfinder has no such light weapon quality, nor the weapon finesse feat, I don't think the analogy applies. If unarmed strikes were intended to be an operative weapon, they'd have the operative special weapon quality (or some special rules text letting them use either strength or dexterity, which no other weapon currently allows).

Basically, if a player came to Starfinder without ever having played Pathfinder, would you reasonably expect them to treat unarmed strikes as operative weapons based on the rules presented in the Starfinder CRB? I personally don't think so.

Would not using unarmed attack qualify as an Operative weapon in relation to "trick attacks".

Absolutely not. Trick Attack explicitly calls out melee weapons with the Operative special ability or small arms as the weapons usable with Trick Attack.

Unarmed Attacks specifically do NOT have the operative tag.

Starfinder may have Pathfinder analogs at many levels but this case is pretty clear.

From the armory the pistol whip trick will let you kind of use improved unarmed strike as an operative weapon (not pfs legal though)