Fed Governor Waller Addresses AI Agents' Role in Payments at Sibos 2026

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller delivered remarks Tuesday at Sibos 2026 in Miami, Florida, focusing on the intersection of artificial intelligence and the evolving payments system, according to a speech published by the Federal Reserve Board.

The address, titled "Payments in the Age of AI Agents," comes as financial institutions and regulators worldwide are grappling with how autonomous AI systems are beginning to initiate, authorize, and settle financial transactions with limited or no direct human involvement at the point of execution.

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Waller's remarks at Sibos — the annual financial industry conference organized by SWIFT and among the most prominent global gatherings for payments professionals, bankers, and regulators — signal that senior U.S. central bank officials are actively monitoring how machine-driven agents could alter clearing, settlement, and oversight frameworks that underpin the global financial system.

The convergence of large language models and agentic AI with core payment infrastructure raises questions about accountability, fraud exposure, and systemic risk that existing regulatory structures were not designed to address. Policymakers and industry participants have increasingly flagged that current frameworks may require updating as AI assumes a more operational role in financial services.

Full details of Governor Waller's prepared remarks and any policy guidance contained therein are available directly from the Federal Reserve. Continue reading at FRB: Speeches.