Speaker: John Duigenan, GM Global Financial Services Industry, IBM

Overview: Generative AI is set to transform customer experiences, employee productivity, and IT development and operations within the financial services industry. However, the question remains: How can banks and other financial institutions ensure that these processes and outcomes are fully trustworthy? This session, led by John Duigenan of IBM, delves into the core elements of a robust governance framework and best practices designed to mitigate risks and comply with the EU’s AI Act.

Key Points from John Duigenan’s Presentation:

Generative AI's Impact:

  • Customer Experience: Generative AI will enhance the way customers interact with financial services, making the process more personalized and efficient.
  • Employee Productivity: AI tools will support employees in becoming more productive by automating routine tasks and providing intelligent insights.
  • IT Development and Operations: AI will drive greater efficiency and innovation in IT processes, reducing the time and cost associated with development and operations.

Ensuring Trust and Compliance:

  • Robust Governance Framework: Establishing a comprehensive governance framework is crucial for managing AI risks. This includes defining clear policies, procedures, and controls to ensure AI systems are developed and operated responsibly.
  • EU’s AI Act: Compliance with regulatory requirements, such as the EU’s AI Act, is essential. This act emphasizes transparency, accountability, and the ethical use of AI, which financial institutions must adhere to.
  • Risk Mitigation: Implementing best practices to reduce risks involves regular auditing, monitoring AI systems for biases, and ensuring data privacy and security.

IBM’s Approach to AI Development:

  • In-House Development: Adam highlighted that IBM, as a technology company, adopts a systematic approach to product development. Specifically, in the realm of AI and Generative AI, IBM has been working intensively for the past five years.
  • No External Collaborations: Strategically, IBM's policy is to conduct all research and development internally, without collaborating with external stakeholders. This approach ensures that IBM maintains complete control over the core services of its products, avoiding dependencies on third-party partners or suppliers.

Best Practices for Trustworthy AI:

  • Transparency: Ensure that AI models and their decision-making processes are transparent to users and stakeholders.
  • Accountability: Assign clear accountability for AI systems, ensuring that there are designated individuals responsible for monitoring and maintaining AI performance and compliance.
  • Ethical Considerations: Continuously assess the ethical implications of AI applications, ensuring that they align with organizational values and societal norms.

John Duigenan's session provided valuable insights into the transformative potential of Generative AI in financial services and the importance of establishing a robust governance framework to ensure trust and compliance. IBM’s commitment to in-house development and strict adherence to regulatory standards underscores the need for financial institutions to adopt similar rigorous approaches to harness the benefits of AI while minimizing risks. As the industry evolves, these best practices will be crucial in maintaining the integrity and reliability of AI-driven processes and outcomes.

About KOBIL

KOBIL is a global technology company focusing on secure digital identity and all-in-one multi-sided platform technologies. Since 1986, as a trusted Identity partner, KOBIL has been playing a vital role in the development of new encryption standards for identity-first security and regulatory-compliant solutions. Offering cutting-edge solutions for application shielding, user authentication, transaction authorization, and more, KOBIL is a market pioneer in digital identity and mobile security management. With over 500 employees worldwide, KOBIL is trusted by 5000+ stakeholders from banks to SMEs and start-ups, including the world's largest and most trusted organizations like the German Government,Raiffeisen, Erste, ING, Airbus,DATEV, Migrosand Siemens. KOBIL's recent innovation uniting all identity talents within a SuperApp platform highlight its commitment to compliance and innovation. KOBIL GmbH is the most visionary and market-leading provider of secure data technology solutions, with over 100+ million end users benefiting from its solutions. It operates in five headquarters—Germany, Switzerland, Turkey, the USA, and the UK—providing future-proofed projects and tech solutions across the world.