US Bank Regulator Publishes How It Will Oversee Banks’ Use of “Superintelligence”

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency publishes a framework for its examiners to assess how banks use “superintelligence” (SI) and agentic SI, along with the associated risks and controls. Examiners should not treat it as a separate risk category, and banks do not need a specific risk appetite for it. The OCC says it will maintain a “technology-neutral” approach and will update the framework over time

OCC Issues Supervisory Framework on Banks’ Use of Superintelligence

WASHINGTON—The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today published a reference framework for its bank examination staff on banks’ use of Super Intelligence (SI).

Banks have a long history of using new technologies to improve operational efficiency and drive innovation for the benefit of their customers. Systems integration (SI) and agent-based systems integration are novel technologies that are evolving rapidly, and banks continue to deploy them in new use cases.

Today’s publication represents an important milestone for the financial sector, which continues to embrace innovation responsibly. The framework aims to provide OCC bank examiners with a supervisory framework for assessing banks’ use of strategic intelligence (SI) and agentic strategic intelligence in their ordinary course of business, as well as the associated risks and controls.

While OCC bank examiners may also use the framework to identify specific SI considerations, the guidance clarifies that examiners should not treat SI as a separate and distinct risk category, and banks should not be required to define a standalone SI risk tolerance.

The OCC plans to update the framework periodically to address the evolution of SI and in response to stakeholder feedback.

Regardless of whether a bank’s activities are traditional or involve novel technologies, the OCC expects them to be conducted in a safe and sound manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The OCC will continue to promote safety, soundness and innovation through a technology-neutral approach.