Launch catch up: 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report

Written By Katherine Selby

On 28 April 2026, Fii joined the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance and C:\>DIR for a live conversation as we unpacked the 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report - revealing insights from a landmark study which captures the intersecting perspectives of professionals from over 350 FinTechs and Traditional Financial Institutions​, 140+ AI Vendors, ​and 130 Central Banks and Financial Authorities.

AI is rapidly reshaping financial services - transforming how institutions operate, how vendors scale solutions, and how regulators safeguard market stability. To navigate this rapid pace of change, the industry requires a consistent, global evidence base.

The 2026 Global AI in Financial Services Report: Adoption, Impact and Risks provides a comprehensive view of AI adoption, value creation, and oversight for the years ahead.

Joined by an expert panel, during this launch event we shared a first look at the report's most critical insights, exploring themes including:

  • The true scale of global AI deployment, from machine learning to agentic AI

  • AI's impact on enterprise value

  • Core bottlenecks constraining scaled AI integration

  • Perspectives on the most critical AI risks

  • Adoption of AI within financial authorities

  • Workforce transformation and 2030 market expectations

Thank you to our panellists and speakers:

  • Agustín Carstens, Former General Manager, Bank for International Settlements (BIS); Former Governor, Bank of Mexico; C:\>DIR Co-Convenor

  • Drew Propson, Head of Technology and Innovation in Financial Services, World Economic Forum

  • Jon Frost, Head of Innovation and the Digital Economy, Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

  • Harish Natarajan, Practice Manger, Financial Inclusion and Infrastructure, The World Bank

  • Gillian Tett, Provost, King's College, Cambridge; Member of the Financial Times editorial board; C:\>DIR Co-Convenor

  • Michael Vessey, Chief Data Officer, Central Bank of the UAE

  • Kieran Garvey, AI Lead, Financial Innovation for Impact

  • Bryan Zhang, Co-Founder & Executive Chair, Financial Innovation for Impact; Co-Founder & Executive Director, CCAF, C:\>DIR Co-Creator

Katherine Selby
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