The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is exploring the use of artificial intelligence agents to automate some banking operations, as the regulator seeks to adopt the technology while managing risks associated with its use
CBK Director of Research Robert Mudida said the regulator was considering applications in areas such as payments but would maintain human oversight over decisions made using the technology.
Agentic AI refers to software systems that can independently plan and carry out multi-step tasks using digital tools, rather than simply responding to individual user prompts.
The CBK’s Research Department is already using AI for microforecasting in volatile economic conditions and nowcasting to fill data gaps and provide the Monetary Policy Committee with near-real-time information on the state of the economy.
The regulator’s exploration of AI agents comes as financial institutions increasingly use artificial intelligence to support payment processing, fraud detection, credit risk assessment and customer service.
Mudida said the CBK was weighing the potential benefits of the technology against risks, with data security, governance and regulatory compliance remaining key considerations.
