The live testing service would be a new component of the FCA’s AI Lab, which has been supporting firms with the development and deployment of AI and would help to fill a testing gap slowing firms’ adoption of AI.
The live testing service would allow firms to collaborate with the FCA while they check that their new AI tools are ready to be used. It would also provide the FCA with intelligence to better understand how AI may impact UK financial markets.
The live testing service will provide regulatory support to firms who are ready to deploy consumer or market-facing AI models. The proposed live testing service would run for 12 to 18 months, with plans to launch in September 2025.
The proposal builds on the FCA’s new 5-year strategy which sets out how the regulator will support growth by enabling innovation and ensuring the continued competitiveness of the UK’s world-leading financial services through a tech-positive approach. It will also support the FCA to be a smarter regulator by embracing data and technology to be more effective and efficient.
Jessica Rusu, the FCA’s chief data, intelligence and information officer, said: "Under our new strategy, we’ve committed to being increasingly tech positive to support growth. We want financial firms and their customers to benefit from AI, so we’re providing a safe space to test how they plan to use it."
Feedback to the Engagement Paper closes on 10 June 2025.
1. Read the Engagement Paper.
2. On 29 April, in a keynote speech at Innovate Finance’s Global Summit (IFGS), Jessica Rusu will set out plans for the proposal.
3. We set out how the FCA is working to accelerate digital innovation in our response to the Prime Minister’s letter, including that we would avoid additional regulations for AI by relying on existing frameworks.
4. In April 2024, we set out our AI Update which outlines how our existing regulatory frameworks apply to firms’ use of AI.
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