Although it may seem that artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed and embedded across the entire economy, uptake by financial services firms has been modest. “While most firms have begun to engage with AI, relatively few have translated that engagement into structured, scalable deployment,” according to ACA Group’s new report, State of AI in Compliance and Operations (Report), which is based on a study it conducted in March 2026. Most firms in the study are using AI to some extent, more often in compliance workflows than in operations. This article summarizes the key findings from the Report and the insights from a related presentation by ACA Group on agentic AI, AI-related risks and developing robust AI governance. See “The Core Benefits and Burdens of AI Use in Financial Services” (Apr. 23, 2026).