Key Points

Artificial intelligence has completely transformed from a niche concept to a central force in financial services. The NPCI chairman revealed that nearly 80% of financial organizations are now using AI in their operations. He highlighted how both Generative AI and Agentic AI are revolutionizing everything from fraud detection to customer experience. While celebrating this progress, he also emphasized that responsible governance and international cooperation are essential for sustainable AI adoption.

Key Points: NPCI's Ajay Choudhary Says AI Now Mainstream in Financial Services

  • AI investment in financial services projected to reach $100 billion by 2027
  • 78% of financial organizations now use AI compared to 55% in 2023
  • Generative AI and Agentic AI driving major changes in fraud detection and compliance
  • AI could boost global banking productivity by $200-340 billion annually
2 min read

AI has moved from margins to mainstream: NPCI's Ajay Kumar Choudhary

NPCI Chairman reveals AI investment to hit $100B by 2027, with 78% of financial firms using AI. Learn how it's transforming banking and payments.

"Artificial intelligence has moved from the margins to the mainstream - Ajay Kumar Choudhary"

Mumbai, Oct 7

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept but has become a central force in reshaping financial services, Ajay Kumar Choudhary, Non-Executive Chairman and Independent Director of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), said on Tuesday.

Delivering the keynote address at the 6th Global FinTech Fest (GFF) 2025 here, Choudhary said that AI is transforming the way financial services are designed, delivered, and experienced, creating new opportunities for efficiency and inclusion.

“Artificial intelligence has moved from the margins to the mainstream. It is reshaping how we design, deliver, and experience financial services, opening doors for efficiency, inclusion, and resilience,” he said.

Speaking on the theme “AI’s Promise and Peril: Building Responsible Intelligence for Inclusive Finance,” however, he warned that it also brings complex challenges that must be managed through responsible governance and global cooperation.

Choudhary highlighted that investment in AI across banking, insurance, capital markets, and payments is projected to reach nearly $100 billion by 2027.

He noted that 78 per cent of financial organisations are already using AI in at least one area, compared to 55 per cent in 2023.

“The industry is no longer debating if AI will matter -- it is now preparing for how far and how fast it will take us,” he said.

He explained that two forms of AI -- Generative AI, which creates and analyses data at scale, and Agentic AI, which can perform complex tasks autonomously -- are driving major changes in the financial sector.

These technologies, he said, can enhance fraud detection, compliance automation, trading accuracy, and customer experience, potentially increasing global banking productivity by $200–340 billion annually.

“Responsible AI is not a slogan, it is the only way forward,” he said, calling for greater international collaboration to ensure data security and sustainable AI adoption.

Choudhary also praised India’s achievements in inclusive digital innovation, particularly through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which now processes over 20 billion transactions a month.

He spoke about NPCI’s efforts to expand financial access through initiatives like ‘UPI Lite’ for low-bandwidth regions, ‘UPI 123Pay’ for feature phone users, and ‘UPI for Her’ to support women entrepreneurs.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
UPI has been a game-changer for small businesses like mine. If AI can make it even better while keeping it secure, that's amazing! But hope they don't forget about rural areas where internet is still patchy.
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Anjali F
While I appreciate the progress, I'm concerned about data privacy. With 78% of financial orgs using AI, what safeguards are in place? "Responsible AI" sounds good but needs concrete implementation.
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Sarah B
The 'UPI for Her' initiative is particularly encouraging. Financial inclusion for women entrepreneurs can transform our economy. AI should focus on making banking more accessible to all sections.
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Vikram M
20 billion UPI transactions monthly! That's incredible growth. AI-powered fraud detection will be crucial as we scale further. Hope the technology reaches tier-2 and tier-3 cities soon.
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Michael C
Working with Indian fintech partners, I've seen how quickly digital payments have evolved. The jump from 55% to 78% AI adoption in just 2 years shows India isn't waiting to embrace technology.

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