The Future of AI Governance & Compliance in Financial Services

Overview

AI adoption across financial services is accelerating, but most institutions are still in a phase of experimentation. As AI systems become embedded in core processes, expectations around oversight and risk management are changing fast. This project seeks to understand where AI governance is heading over the next 1- 5 years.

The study will be guided by the insights of senior leaders in compliance, risk, model governance and AI innovation/strategy across financial institutions. The work is explicitly vendor-neutral and focused on sector-wide governance insights.

Our aim: to produce an evidence-based and forward-looking assessment of what effective AI governance and compliance will look like in UK and EU financial services.

Contributors

This research initiative is co-ordinated by Zango, and supported by independent contributors specialising in AI governance, financial-system risk, and technology law.

Leading Zango’s policy and partnerships initiatives. Previously led policy teams in the UK Government on AI regulation and online safety, including policy work on regulatory reporting, audits, and compliance.

Sam Green

Research Coordinator

Focused on AI governance and financial-system risk. Research Affiliate at the Oxford Martin School AI Governance Initiative and affiliated with the Centre for the Governance of AI (GovAI).

Andrew Sutton

Research Contributor (AI Governance)

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Areas of focus. We are exploring the following key themes through our research:

AI adoption

Where and how financial institutions are deploying AI - and what’s accelerating or slowing adoption.

The impact of AI

How AI is reshaping day-to-day compliance and risk work, and the capabilities organisations now need.

Governance readiness

How institutions are adapting their governance frameworks today to manage emerging AI systems and regulatory expectations.

The future of AI governance

The shifts, uncertainties, and longer-term questions that will shape AI governance over the next 5 years.

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How we're approaching the research

Qualitative interviews

Interviews with senior leaders in compliance, risk, model governance and AI strategy across UK and EU financial institutions.

Academic input

Independent expertise spanning AI governance, financial-system risk, and technology law, ensuring the research is grounded in rigorous analysis.

Evidence-based

Drawing from AI-usage surveys, emerging capabilities, benchmarks, and public reporting on sector-specific AI models.