Dr. Jonnie Penn, an associate teaching professor of AI ethics and society at the University of Cambridge, opened the second day of the Temenos Community Forum with insights on the growth of AI and the importance of governing its ethical standards.
Penn began by providing a historical context on the development of AI, referencing the influential book Superintelligence by Oxford professor Nick Bostrom, which sparked considerable anxiety about AI’s potential. He highlighted AI’s evolution from basic computer gaming tests to advanced intelligent models and robotics, offering an optimistic perspective on its journey.
He outlined how AI’s capabilities can currently be categorized by maturity and strength, advocating for structured regulation to harness its potential. For instance, AI is reliable in low-risk tasks, such as audio recognition or medical imaging, but struggles with social judgments. Penn illustrated these points with a diagram that charts risks associated with AI, helping to clarify the boundaries between AI perception and judgment.
Continuing his discussion, Penn drew parallels to past anxieties about social media and emphasized the impact AI will have on advertising and societal interactions. He expressed a positive outlook on our ability to navigate AI’s challenges, suggesting we view AI as a sociotechnical craft that involves various organizational departments beyond just IT.
The Future of Banking
Isabelle Guis, chief marketing officer at Temenos, also took the stage to outline key banking trends predicted for 2025 based on a survey of over 400 global banking leaders. The research underscored the necessity for more global guidelines regarding governance and the ethical deployment of AI, indicating ongoing concerns about balancing innovation with trustworthiness. Notably, banks are intensifying efforts to enhance customer experience and drive innovations in security despite these challenges.
Interestingly, the survey revealed a divide in AI readiness; while 46% of respondents had not yet adopted AI, 43% were at various stages of implementation. Furthermore, 42% of those deploying AI acknowledged the absence of a dedicated governance team, yet 90% expressed a desire for AI to augment rather than replace human processes. Guis emphasized that this gap illustrates a lack of understanding rather than a reluctance to govern, stating, "This confirms that GenAI is still at an early stage with no clear implementation process based on industry standards."
Guis encouraged collaboration within the community to share best practices and build a stronger understanding of AI governance, echoing Dr. Penn’s optimistic view that the industry is heading in a positive direction.
Autonomous Banking and TCF 2026
Guis’s presentation was followed by discussions focused on the benefits of autonomous banking and the importance of maintaining a human element within these systems. The forum wrapped up with Temenos CEO Jean-Pierre Brulard, who recapped the event’s successes and announced that TCF 2026 will be held from May 5th to 7th in Copenhagen, Denmark.