On October 6 in Washington D.C., U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivered a compelling speech at the "AI and Financial Stability" conference, co-hosted by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) and the Brookings Institution. She warned that the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in the financial sector presents "significant risks."
Yellen highlighted the "immense opportunities and substantial risks" associated with AI, making it a critical concern for both the Treasury Department and the FSOC. When utilized effectively, AI can enhance efficiency and accuracy in finance, particularly through its predictive capabilities in portfolio management, anomaly detection to prevent fraud, and automation of customer service processes.
Despite these advantages, Yellen pointed out several challenges. Issues such as the complexity and opacity of AI models, a lack of robust risk management frameworks, and interconnectedness from using similar datasets could create vulnerabilities. She also warned about the risks tied to a concentration of providers developing models, as well as potential data inadequacies.
In response to these challenges, Yellen emphasized that the U.S. government and financial regulatory bodies will continue to explore emerging technologies and deepen their understanding of AI applications in financial services. They will actively seek input from market participants, consumers, scholars, and the public regarding the role of AI in the financial sector.