The Future of Financial Services Summit, held last week in London, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore how AI is transforming the financial sector. This event focused on moving beyond the hype to examine real-world applications of AI, particularly in areas such as credit decisioning, financial inclusion, and the broader transformation of the financial services value chain.

As a panelist, I had the opportunity to discuss AI’s role in shaping Africa's financial landscape, with a particular emphasis on leveraging technology for greater inclusion and resilience.

During the panel, I shared insights into how AI has transitioned from a conceptual tool to a powerful driver of change in the financial services industry. AI is no longer just a buzzword, it’s now a critical component of the financial ecosystem, revolutionising processes such as credit decisioning, risk assessment, and personalised customer interactions. For Africa, where traditional banking systems often fall short in reaching the unbanked, AI offers unique solutions that could redefine financial access and equity.

A tool for financial inclusion

One of the central themes of the panel discussion was the role of AI in driving financial inclusion, a crucial issue for Africa, where millions remain unbanked or underbanked. With my background in building digital platforms and banking solutions for smallholder farmers, I highlighted the potential of AI to develop tailored financial products that cater to individuals who have historically been excluded from formal financial systems.

For example, AI can leverage non-traditional data sources like mobile usage patterns or social media behaviour to evaluate creditworthiness. This is particularly important in Africa, where many people do not have formal credit histories but do have mobile phones or other digital footprints.

By analysing these data points, AI can create personalised credit scoring models, allowing financial institutions to extend loans to people who were previously considered too risky. This shift from a reliance on traditional credit scores to AI-driven insights has the potential to unlock access to credit for millions of Africans, fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth.

Transforming insurance through AI

Beyond lending, AI is also revolutionising the insurance industry in Africa by making microinsurance more accessible. For many low-income individuals and smallholder farmers, traditional insurance models are either unaffordable or unsuitable.

AI allows insurers to develop microinsurance products that are affordable and tailored to the specific needs of customers. By using AI to analyse individual behaviour and patterns, insurers can offer usage-based insurance, where customers pay premiums based on actual use rather than fixed rates. This approach ensures that insurance becomes a feasible option for those with limited incomes, thereby expanding coverage across the continent.

This AI-driven shift towards personalised, data-based insurance solutions is especially impactful in sectors like agriculture, where farmers face high risks due to climate change and fluctuating market conditions.

By offering insurance products that reflect the unique risks faced by smallholders, AI can enhance resilience in African agricultural sectors, helping farmers recover from crop losses or adverse weather events.

Enhancing efficiency in financial services

Another major point of discussion was the potential of AI to enhance operational efficiency within financial institutions. This is particularly relevant for Africa, where many banks and financial service providers face high operational costs that are passed on to customers. AI-driven automation can significantly reduce these costs by streamlining routine tasks such as data entry, compliance checks, and fraud detection.

For instance, AI-powered fraud detection systems can identify anomalies in real-time, preventing fraudulent transactions and enhancing security. By reducing the time and resources required for manual reviews, financial institutions can allocate their efforts to more complex and high-value activities, such as customer engagement and strategic growth. This not only improves efficiency but also enhances the customer experience by making transactions faster and more secure.

AI's ability to predict customer needs and behaviours further supports financial institutions in offering tailored products. With AI analytics, banks can anticipate when a customer might need a loan or insurance, providing personalised recommendations that improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. These capabilities are especially valuable in competitive markets where customer retention is critical to maintaining a competitive edge.

Navigating ethical and regulatory challenges

However, as highlighted during the panel, the widespread adoption of AI in financial services is not without challenges. Ethical considerations, such as data privacy and algorithmic transparency, are significant concerns that must be addressed to build customer trust.

In the context of Africa, where regulatory frameworks are still evolving, these challenges are particularly pronounced.

It is essential for regulators and financial institutions to work together to ensure that AI applications are implemented responsibly. This means establishing clear guidelines for data use, ensuring transparency in decision-making processes, and preventing biases in AI algorithms that could inadvertently exclude certain populations.

The panel emphasised that while the risks associated with AI must be managed, the potential benefits especially in terms of financial inclusion are too significant to ignore.

For Africa to fully harness AI's potential in financial services, policymakers must adopt a balanced approach that promotes innovation while safeguarding consumer rights. This involves updating regulations to accommodate new technologies and fostering a collaborative environment where the private sector and regulators can co-create solutions.

Looking ahead

The discussions at the Future of Financial Services Summit underscored that Africa is at a critical juncture in leveraging AI for economic transformation. With the right investments in digital infrastructure and supportive regulatory frameworks, the continent can become a leader in AI-driven financial services.

Countries need to prioritise building robust digital infrastructures, such as expanding internet access and mobile connectivity, to ensure that AI-powered services can reach remote areas. Additionally, investing in AI education and training will be crucial for developing the local talent needed to drive innovation in the financial sector.

Governments must also work to create a conducive environment for AI start-ups, especially those focusing on financial inclusion. By offering incentives, such as tax breaks and grants for AI-based solutions, they can encourage more local and international investment in this burgeoning field. These efforts can transform Africa’s financial landscape, making it more inclusive, efficient, and resilient.

As the continent continues to embrace digital transformation, collaboration between the private sector, governments, and international partners will be key to ensuring that AI delivers on its promise of economic resilience and growth for all.