The business information provider makes its predictions on the basis of a widely projected increase in the number of AI projects reportedly under development.

Already in 2018, the value of AI in banking business was estimated to be $41.1 billion, which includes the cost savings and efficiencies of introducing AI technology compared to keeping existing infrastructures and processes.

“The innovative capabilities AI will bring to financial services will be transformative,” says Don Tait, principal analyst at IHS Markit. “AI is poised to challenge and blur our concepts of computing and the ‘natural’ human. This sea change will require both businesses and governments to develop expansive foresight and critical understanding of the full effects of digitisation and emerging technologies.”

According to the report, North America is projected to be the largest market for AI in banking between 2018 and 2023. AI in the region will increase from a business value of $14.7 billion in 2018 to nearly $79 billion by 2030. However, the proportional importance of the North American region is likely to decline between 2024 and 2030 as Asia Pacific, Europe and other global regions roll out more AI solutions in the banking sector.

Asia Pacific is the second largest region employing AI in banking, increasing from a business value of $11.5 billion in 2018 and rising to become the leading region in 2024, with a business value of $50.6 billion. By 2030, the Asia Pacific region for AI in banking is projected to reach $98.6 billion by 2030.

“Countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Singapore are likely to drive the demand for AI within the banking sector over the next ten years,” Tait says.

The introduction of AI technology is not entirely good news for the banking industry, with job losses and job re-assignments expected as AI increases enterprise productivity.

IHS Markit estimates that by 2030, around 500,000 bank workers in the UK and 1.3 million in the US could be affected. If this is mirrored across all countries globally, then there will be tens of millions of banking and financial services jobs impacted by the introduction of AI technology in the coming decade.

“Banking employees potentially impacted by the introduction of AI includes tellers, customer service reps, loan interviewers and clerks, financial managers, compliance officers and loan officers,” Tait says. “All in all, AI technology will reconfigure the financial industry’s structure, making the banking sector more humane and intelligent.”

Finextra’s NextGen Banking London 2019 conference on 16 May will bring together practitioners from across the financial services industry to explore what the AI revolution means for banks - and what financial institutions need to do in the short, medium and longer terms to benefit from AI, and ensure their customers do so as well.