Fed Governor Waller Addresses AI's Role in Payment Systems

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller took the stage at Sibos 2026 in Miami, Florida, to address one of the financial sector's most pressing emerging questions: how artificial intelligence agents are transforming the architecture of modern payment systems. The venue, a premier global gathering of financial industry professionals, provided a fitting backdrop for a discussion that sits at the intersection of monetary policy, technology oversight, and financial stability.

Waller's remarks centered on the growing deployment of autonomous AI agents capable of initiating, routing, and settling financial transactions with minimal or no direct human intervention. As these systems become more embedded in both retail and wholesale payment networks, central banks and regulators face new challenges around accountability, fraud risk, and systemic resilience — concerns that fall squarely within the Federal Reserve's supervisory mandate.

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The speech reflects broader institutional attention at the Fed to the pace of technological change in financial infrastructure. AI-driven automation in payments carries significant implications for settlement finality, error resolution, and the integrity of transaction records — areas where regulatory clarity remains nascent and industry standards are still forming.

While the full text of Waller's remarks was delivered at Sibos 2026, the Fed's engagement with the topic signals that policymakers are actively monitoring how AI agent frameworks intersect with existing payment law, consumer protection requirements, and cross-border transaction rules. The international audience at Sibos underscores that these are not purely domestic concerns but global coordination challenges.

Continue reading at FRB: Speeches.