94% of Financial Firms Say AI Is Now Central to Their Operational Strategy
August 1, 2025
Financial institutions are adopting artificial intelligence (AI) at a remarkable pace to address operational challenges and fuel growth. A recent survey by SS&C Blue Prism, titled The Trillion Dollar Transformation: Rise of Gen AI & Agentic AI in Financial Services, found that 87% of financial services firms have already deployed new AI technologies. Additionally, 76% plan to implement agentic AI within the next year.
The study, conducted in 2025 with responses from 377 senior financial services leaders, highlights a sector undergoing major change driven by generative AI, agentic AI, and intelligent automation.
Why Financial Services Lead in AI Adoption
The financial sector’s heavy reliance on data, increasing financial crime rates, and costly regulatory compliance are key reasons for its advanced AI adoption. Generative AI, powered by large language models (LLMs), helps create content, while agentic AI refers to autonomous agents that execute tasks without human input.
These technologies improve processes such as Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), customer onboarding speed, and fraud detection.
AI as a Strategic Business Imperative
The survey reveals that 94% of respondents consider AI critical to their business operations. Firms primarily use AI to boost productivity (45%) and enhance operational efficiency (46%). While automation has been a staple for years, AI now enables leaps in performance, especially in areas that previously saw only small improvements.
Where AI Will Make the Biggest Impact
Looking ahead two years, customer experience and support top the list for AI impact. Over half of the leaders surveyed (53%) expect AI to transform how financial institutions interact with customers. This includes improved chatbot capabilities, 24/7 personalised support, customized advice, and finely targeted financial products.
KYC, AML, and fraud detection are the second most promising areas. Intelligent automation already supports transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and regulatory reporting.
Compliance and Fraud: AI’s Growing Role
Despite discussions around deregulation, new rules like the Corporate Transparency Act and the EU’s DORA framework will increase the demand for advanced compliance tools. With the high cost of fraud and regulatory fines, AI is expected to improve compliance efficiency and reduce expenses.
Looking Ahead
The survey underlines strong momentum behind next-generation AI adoption. The combination of generative AI, agentic automation, and orchestration is set to shape the future of operational excellence in financial services.
For operations professionals eager to deepen their AI skills and stay ahead in this evolving space, exploring targeted AI courses can provide practical knowledge and tools.
Download the full report from SS&C Blue Prism for detailed insights into AI’s growing role in financial services.
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