Banking on (Artificial) Intelligence: Navigating the Realities of AI in Financial Services

There is no lack of hype around artificial intelligence. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what this powerful technology can do. While tech and financial services become more intertwined, cutting through the noise has become more difficult but also more crucial.

As a technology, AI is essential to advancing innovation, to creating efficiencies, and enhancing productivity while capturing opportunities by both incumbent financial institutions as well as fintechs. But it also comes with risks and potential for biases and disinformation, that can deepen inequalities and erode trust in our society. Responsible innovation must become part of our DNA and not as an afterthought.

This book provides a tailored overview of what AI specifically means for financial services, a highly regulated yet also disrupted industry. It investigates the current state of AI applications in financial services today along with the state of funding and partnerships between tech and banking industries. It also examines the key pillars of responsible AI and the importance of keeping humans in the loop. The book takes a deep dive into the use cases in the financial services industry, the challenges and opportunities, and the fragmented regulatory landscape. How can we effectively assess risks, and balance innovation and customer centricity with trust in AI in financial services? Can smaller organizations reap the benefits of the technology? How can institutions deploy AI responsibly and securely, and promote a fairer and more equitable future for more people? While data is about bits and bytes, the realities of AI is very much human. This book will help spark dialogue and collaboration as we journey into the future.

Theodora Lau is the founder of Unconventional Ventures, a public speaker, and an advisor. She is the co-author of The Metaverse Economy (2023) and Beyond Good (2021), and host of One Vision, a podcast on fintech and innovation. Her monthly column on FinTech Futures explores the intersection of financial services, tech, and humanity. She was named one of American Banker's Most Influential Women in FinTech in 2023. She is a regular contributor and commentator for top industry events and publications, including Finovate, American Banker, BBC News, Fintech Times, and The Power 50. Her work has also been published by the Journal of Digital Banking, The Banker, MIT Tech Review, and Harvard Business Review.