According to David Hare, assistant director of strategic partnerships & membership engagement at the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment, digital transformation will deepen in 2026, and adopting AI will become mandatory.
Speaking to FT Adviser, David Hare said digitalisation in financial services will go beyond mobile apps and legacy system upgrades in 2026.
“This will be the year many institutions fully embed technology into their core operations and expand AI use,” he explained.
“AI adoption will no longer be optional but central, driving automation across compliance, risk management, fraud detection, customer support, and back-office functions. While its role in advice is still evolving, the potential is clear.”
However, as digital services expand, so do cyber risks, meaning firms must pair innovation with strong security measures like multi-factor authentication and robust encryption.