HKMA Report on Artificial Intelligence Application in Banking
HKMA published a report that examines the ways in which artificial intelligence is contributing to the reshaping of banking sector. This report is part of a series of publications on the study of the opportunities and challenges of applying artificial intelligence in the banking industry. The report presents findings of a study on the application of artificial intelligence in the banking sector in Hong Kong. HKMA had commissioned PwC to conduct this study in 2019. The report concludes that the basic building blocks, components, and techniques enabling artificial intelligence to support banking and other industries are now in place. However, the ongoing technical difficulties of harnessing artificial intelligence are now combined with other challenges, with the concept of "explainability" being one of the critical issues for financial institutions.
The report first introduces concepts necessary to understand artificial intelligence from both business and technical perspectives. It looks at the most important components and techniques in current artificial intelligence development. Then, it analyzes key technologies enabling the adoption of the current wave of artificial intelligence and looks at the drivers for adoption of artificial intelligence in the banking industry, along with benefits and potential barriers to adoption. Next, the report provides an overview of artificial intelligence in the banking industry in Hong Kong, wherein it also also shares popular artificial intelligence solutions being implemented by banks globally and defines where Hong Kong is on the spectrum of artificial intelligence development. Finally, the report considers how to implement artificial intelligence and looks to the future and recommends ways in which different stakeholders can help develop Hong Kong into an Innovation hub for artificial intelligence.
The findings show that almost 90% of the surveyed retail banks have adopted or plan to adopt artificial intelligence applications. Although the basic building blocks, components, and techniques enabling artificial intelligence to support banking and other industries are in place, the ongoing technical difficulties of harnessing artificial intelligence are now combined with other challenges. These include user acceptability, finding and retaining expert talent, integrating newly enabled products and services into a well-established business strategy, and the "explainability" of models. The following are the key recommendations presented in the report:
- Drafting guidelines on artificial intelligence risk management in consultation with working groups of banks and regulators would help to better manage regulatory compliance. With greater guidance, banks will become more confident and readier to apply artificial intelligence solutions.
- Knowledge-sharing of tried and tested use cases across Hong Kong’s banking artificial intelligence community is essential. This should encompass success stories as well as stories of those that fell short, either technically or due to a lack of real demand. In this way, financial institutions in Hong Kong will be able to develop an industry-wide understanding of the rules of the road for this new technology.
This report is based on the findings of a survey conducted in August and September 2019 on 168 HKMA-registered banks. The report also presents the findings of research into academic and commercial publications on artificial intelligence covering economics, public policy, regulation, technology and public use cases, and interviews with a start-up, two fintech incubators, a research organization, and ten banks.
Keywords: Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Banking, Artificial Intelligence, Fintech, Regtech, Cyber Risk, HKMA
Previous Article
JFSA Project Uses Artificial Intelligence to Examine Annual ReportsRelated Articles
EBA Clarifies Use of COVID-19-Impacted Data for IRB Credit Risk Models
The European Banking Authority (EBA) published four draft principles to support supervisory efforts in assessing the representativeness of COVID-19-impacted data for banks using the internal ratings based (IRB) credit risk models.
EP Reaches Agreement on Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
The European Council and the European Parliament (EP) reached a provisional political agreement on the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
PRA Consults on Model Risk Management Principles for Banks
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) launched a consultation (CP6/22) that sets out proposal for a new Supervisory Statement on expectations for management of model risk by banks.
EC Regulation Amends Standards for Calculating Credit Risk Adjustments
The European Commission (EC) published the Delegated Regulation 2022/954, which amends regulatory technical standards on specification of the calculation of specific and general credit risk adjustments.
BIS Hub Updates Work Program for 2022, Announces New Projects
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) Innovation Hub updated its work program, announcing a set of projects across various centers.
EIOPA Issues Cyber Underwriting Proposal, Statement on Open Insurance
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published two consultation papers—one on the supervisory statement on exclusions related to systemic events and the other on the supervisory statement on the management of non-affirmative cyber exposures.
US Senate Members Seek Details on SEC Proposed Climate Disclosure Rule
Certain members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs issued a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
EIOPA Consults on Review of Securitization Framework in Solvency II
The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) published a consultation paper on the advice on the review of the securitization prudential framework in Solvency II.
UK Authorities Issue Regulatory and Reporting Updates for Banks
The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) issued a statement on PRA buffer adjustment while the Bank of England (BoE) published a notice on the statistical reporting requirements for banks.
BCBS Issues Climate Risk Principles while HKMA Expresses Its Support
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) issued principles for the effective management and supervision of climate-related financial risks.