AI In Finance and Banking, January 18, 2026
This semi-monthly column by Sabrina I. Pacifici highlights news, government documents, NGO/IGO papers, conferences, industry white papers and reports, academic papers and speeches, and central bank actions on the subject of AI’s fast paced impact on the banking and finance sectors. The chronological links provided are to the primary sources, and as available, indicate links to alternate free versions. Five highlights from this post: Markets brace for 2026 as investors flag potential AI overheating and uncertainty over Federal Reserve policy; Artificial intelligence and growth in advanced and emerging economies: short-run impact; Here’s what Wall Street bank CEOs are saying about head count in the age of AI; Why insurance companies should encourage solid AI risk management instead of excluding it; and SoftBank has completed its $40 billion investment commitment to OpenAI.