Fireside chat at Convergence India Expo 2026: AI and trust take centre stage

The future of financial technology in India may be powered by artificial intelligence. On the Transformation Stage at Convergence India Expo 2026, one message stood tall & clear:

Without trust, even the smartest system will fail and won’t scale
At the fireside chat titled “Regulating Innovation: AI, Trust & the Future of FinTech in India,” industry and regulatory voices came together to unpack the promises and pitfalls of AI-led finance. The session, moderated by Anil Kumar Gupta, Managing Partner at MicroSave Consulting, featured Suvendu Pati, Chief General Manager – FinTech at the Reserve Bank of India.

Opening the discussion, Gupta set the moment by questioning the clarity of AI-driven decisions. He pointed out that instant, unexplained loan rejections may improve efficiency, but they further the risk of undermining fairness and accountability when applied at scale.
As AI expands access, particularly for underserved communities like farmers, the focus must shift to building systems that are not just intelligent but transparent and trustworthy.

Pati noted that AI is already strengthening India’s digital public infrastructure, particularly in areas like identity verification and payments. From video-based KYC processes to conversational banking & voice-enabled transactions, AI is reshaping how users interact with financial systems, especially those who have remained digitally excluded.

The discussion delved into AI’s potential to unlock financial inclusion by analysing unconventional data sources, enabling lenders to go beyond traditional credit-scoring models.

However, cautioning users, Pati noted that emerging risks, such as deepfakes and compromised data integrity, could erode confidence if not proactively addressed.

“Trust is fundamental to the financial system,” he emphasised, adding that AI adoption will ultimately depend on its ability to reinforce reliability rather than disrupt it.

Interestingly, Pati also positioned AI itself as a form of digital public infrastructure, one that could democratise access to compute power and datasets, allowing startups and smaller players to innovate at a scale previously reserved for large institutions.

The session concluded on an important point: with India accelerating towards an AI-driven financial future, the real differentiator will not just be innovation, but the ability to build systems that people trust.

Convergence India Expo, now in its 33rd edition, continues to serve as a central platform bringing together policymakers, innovators and industry leaders to shape conversations around emerging technologies.

Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, the expo remains a focal point for dialogue on India’s digital and innovation landscape, with its next edition scheduled for March 23-25, 2027.

CT Bureau