AI is everywhere in financial services conversations at the moment but, when it comes to compliance, especially in the fight against financial crime, many teams still aren’t seeing the benefits.
This was the key takeaway from a recent roundtable hosted by Brighter Consultancy and Aibly, an AI Agent orchestration & AI Agent workflow solutions specialist, where industry leaders explored how AI can support compliance teams today, not in the future.
Many AI vendors focus on bold promises and long-term potential. However, compliance leaders are seeking something more practical – tools that they can deploy immediately to help their teams work smarter, not harder.
While interest in AI is high across compliance teams, especially among operational leaders, actual adoption remains limited. Barriers include complex technology estates, disparate data sources and a lack of clarity about where and precisely what AI can deliver.
One of the central themes from the roundtable was the concept of AI ‘agents’. These are digital workers with specific tasks. Unlike simple chatbots, these multi-AI agent teams can take autonomous action such as analysing customer activity, flagging suspicious transactions or collaborating with other agents to achieve defined goals. They can work together to complete tasks more efficiently and accurately.
This proactive approach supports, rather than replaces human judgment, reducing the manual load and improving outcomes.
Those attending the roundtable heard of real-world case studies of where agentic AI is already delivering value. From faster due diligence checks to detecting unusual transactional activity, these tools are not theoretical pilots, they’re live applications, helping teams to respond faster, stay compliant and focus on high-value work.
However, there was also a note of caution. Regulators may be wary of companies that overstate their AI capabilities or adopt AI without proper oversight. The advice, therefore, is to start small, in one focused, manageable area where AI can demonstrate quick results.
The roundtable closed with a clear message – AI in compliance isn’t about replacing people, it’s about empowering them. The best solutions are shaped by the people who actually do the work.
Brighter and Aibly are now inviting compliance leaders to help shape the next generation of AI tools – solutions that integrate with existing systems, respect domain expertise and deliver real efficiencies, without adding complexity.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to explore AI in compliance, get in touch to discuss what we can achieve together.