KUALA LUMPUR, July 8 — As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more embedded in finance, the future of the industry will need to combine human judgment with machine intelligence, guided by ethical leadership, accountability and a culture of responsible innovation.

Minister of Finance II, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, said this in his special address at the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) Nexus 2026 Conference, here today.

Amir Hamzah said a resilient banking system depends not only on sound regulation, capital strength and technological capability, but also on people.

“The institutions that succeed will not simply be those with the most advanced systems, but those with people who can govern complexity, exercise judgement and act with integrity. 

“Investment in talent must be seen as part of the sector’s core infrastructure. A banking system cannot be future-ready if its people are not,” he said.

He noted that through its professional standards, qualifications, leadership development and industry platforms, AICB provides an important channel through which this capability can be built at scale, supporting a banking workforce that is capable, adaptable and trusted.

“The Government, the regulator, the industry and the professional bodies each have a role. None can succeed alone. 

“But the thread that connects all of them is the same thread that has always run through the best of banking: service to people, conducted with integrity,” he added. — Bernama