At the 2026 Lujiazui Forum held in Shanghai, BANK OF CHINA (ASX: 03988) President Zhang Hui delivered a keynote address focusing on the theme of technological innovation empowering high-quality financial development, specifically addressing how artificial intelligence is driving financial transformation.

AI's Transformative Impact on Banking

Zhang Hui stated that the deep integration of technological innovation and financial change is fundamentally reshaping the banking industry's development paradigm. In terms of service models, AI is altering the information interaction system between banks and clients, promoting the creation of digital financial services that are inclusive, professional, and personalized. Regarding value creation, AI is deeply embedded in various processes such as marketing, risk control, and operations, effectively helping banks reduce costs, increase efficiency, manage risks, and expand value creation. From a management perspective, the deep application of AI necessitates a systematic overhaul of a bank's organizational structure, team building, management mechanisms, governance systems, and risk capabilities, shifting from a model driven by experience and manpower to one driven by data and intelligence.

Key Considerations for AI Implementation

Zhang Hui pointed out that implementing AI is a systematic project, and achieving digital-intelligent transformation requires addressing four key questions. First, clarify the strategic direction by defining "what to do," prioritizing high-frequency, repetitive, and standardized scenarios as entry points, and establishing mechanisms for continuous tracking, evaluation, iteration, and optimization. Second, grasp the critical elements by focusing on "what to use," concentrating on computing power, algorithms, and data, leveraging the domestic intelligent computing industry, open-source ecosystems, and the bank's vast data resources to build a solid foundation and maximize value. Third, persist in integrating business and technology to understand "how to do it," cultivating a versatile talent pool and agile organization, and proceeding with innovation steadily and orderly. Fourth, improve the governance framework to delineate "the boundaries of action," adhering to laws, regulations, and supervisory requirements, and further strengthening security systems to ensure the safety, reliability, and controllability of AI applications.

BOC's Strategic AI Framework

Zhang Hui stated that, aligned with the goal of high-quality financial development, BANK OF CHINA has positioned AI as a key strategic focus, constructing a "326" global AI empowerment system that has developed application capabilities covering all domains and multiple scenarios. This system is based on three platforms—computing power, technology, and data—to solidify the group's digital-intelligent foundation. It centers on two core mechanisms—agile empowerment and security governance—to build a centralized, efficient BOCAI empowerment system and a secure, controllable governance framework. It focuses on six key paradigms, such as intelligent Q&A and report generation, to create integrated application scenarios across domestic and international operations. BANK OF CHINA will continue to advance its digital-intelligent transformation, aiming to achieve new development and make new contributions in supporting the development of a strong financial sector and serving the broader context of Chinese modernization.