AI in Financial Institutions: Staying Ahead in the AI “Arms Race”

The financial services sector is accelerating its investment in artificial intelligence (AI), but is adoption outpacing readiness?

BRG’s AI in Financial Institutions: Staying Ahead in the AI “Arms Race” report dives into survey findings from senior financial institution executives around the world, revealing increasingly rapid deployment alongside critical gaps in governance, risk management, and measurable impact.

Key takeaways include:

• AI adoption is surging, with 94% of institutions expecting increased use—particularly in customer service, corporate functions, and cybersecurity, where efficiency gains are most immediate.
• Only half of respondents believe their AI policies are equipped to manage evolving risks and regulatory demands, and many struggle with enterprise-wide implementation, governance frameworks, and auditable return on investment.
• AI investments are often concentrated in a limited set of priority use cases, which may leave broader risks—such as reputational, workforce, and organizational impacts—underexamined.
• BRG Financial Institution Advisory experts emphasize the need for a more balanced approach, from strengthening governance and risk frameworks to expanding how institutions define and measure AI-driven impact.

Discover why winning the AI “arms race” will require more than rapid adoption—and how leading financial institutions are positioning themselves for sustainable, strategic advantage.