Regulatory technology (RegTech) aims to improve regulatory compliance by automating processes; facilitating reporting; and using advanced data analytics to identify and manage risks. FINRA recently convened a group of regulators, financial services firms and RegTech experts to explore the growth of RegTech and its associated benefits and challenges. This article, the first in a two-part series, covers the portions of the FINRA 2019 RegTech Conference that examined artificial intelligence and big data; blockchain; RegTech challenges; and regulators’ views on RegTech. The second article will explore current uses of RegTech by regulated entities and regulators; considerations before deploying RegTech; and a case study of RegTech implementation. See “Cordium and Aite Group Survey Benchmarks Use of ‘RegTech’ by Asset Management Firms” (Feb. 8, 2018).