DENVER — Financial institutions should not be shy about going all in on their AI strategy, First Citizens Bank Head of AI Ash Kaduskar told attendees at the inaugural FinAi Banking Summit.
“If you want to do [AI], do it well, do not do it timidly,” he said during a fireside chat on March 2.
The $228 billion, Raleigh, N.C.-based bank has been updating its approach to AI, specifically with the hire of Kaduskar, who joined the bank in September 2025 as its first head of AI.
“They were actually hiring me to figure out how can we be ready for AI in the future,” Kaduskar said. “I am here to own AI readiness.”
To accomplish this, Kaduskar shared some traps FIs must avoid in their quest to achieve enterprise AI adoption:
- Don’t underestimate the pace of technology change. Not all leaders at an institution are AI professionals; it’s important to alert leadership that AI is changing fast.
- Don’t underestimate competitors. Be aware of how competitors are using AI to disrupt – avoid the risk losing a competitive advantage.
- Don’t let the risk team say “no” to innovation. Instead, ask for guardrails and change the trajectory of conversations about innovation.
- Do not do AI timidly.
When timidness affects AI readiness, it will affect overall AI adoption of AI and, ultimately, talent retention, Kaduskar said.
Read more coverage from FinAi Banking Summit here.
