Building AI Literacy for Proactive Risk Management

Staying ahead means not only being aware of what’s new but also inferring what those technological advances demand from teams, systems, and an organization’s ability to innovate responsibly. Navigating a landscape that shifts this quickly requires sufficient AI literacy: an understanding of how generative AI works, what it can and cannot do, and how to anticipate emerging opportunities and likely failure modes.

These challenges were at the center of the June 2026 Responsible AI Executive Forum, “AI Literacy for Proactive Risk Management,” an exclusive forum for corporate supporters of the Alliance for Ethics in Financial Services. The session welcomed 20 senior risk, compliance, legal, privacy, cybersecurity and IT leaders across 12 financial services institutions to learn about cutting-edge trends in AI technology, including how they may shape new AI literacy requirements for risk management in the future.

Featured speaker Jason Stanley, head of applied AI research at ServiceNow, joined for a fireside chat on emerging generative and agentic AI technical capabilities, followed by audience Q&A. Attendees then moved into breakout discussion groups to discuss a related realistic case study concerning bringing an AI pilot to production before reconvening for a full-group share-out.  

The June session aimed to equip attendees with the AI literacy needed to help risk management functions prepare for increasingly high-impact AI systems that will require cross-functional, systems-aware approaches.

Participants received resources following the session to continue exploring these topics within their organizations. Take a sneak peek below as Managing Director Azish Filabi, JD, MA, and Responsible AI Program Director Jill Heinze share key highlights from the session.

What’s Next?

Building on the momentum of the June session, the next RAI Executive Forum will take place on September 22, 2026, and will focus on “Governing Effective Human Oversight for AI Systems.” This session will examine the necessary components of effective human oversight from a system, regulatory, and human resources perspective, grounded in decisions familiar to risk and compliance leaders.

More from the Center for Ethics in Financial Services

Explore the Responsible AI Executive Forum to learn how the Center is helping the industry navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI.

To learn more about the Responsible AI Executive Forums and related engagement opportunities, including Alliance for Ethics in Financial Services corporate support, please contact the Center for Ethics in Financial Services team at ethics@theamericancollege.edu. Corporate supporters receive exclusive invitations to the Forums and access to the Center's proprietary research.

Discover more key insights on AI ethics through recent publications on our website, the NAIC Journal, the Journal on AI Policy and Complex Systems, and the Journal of Financial Planning.