Zest AI Highlights 2026 AI Predictions for Banking and Implications for Risk Management

Zest AI has shared an update.

The company highlighted a Forbes article in which CEO Mike de Vere outlines expectations for how artificial intelligence will reshape banking and the broader financial system in 2026. Key themes include a shift by regulators and lenders from reactive oversight toward real-time risk detection, the emergence of an AI capability gap between larger institutions and community banks, and the growing importance of proprietary “data moats” as a source of durable competitive advantage.

For investors, the post underscores Zest AI’s positioning as a technology provider at the intersection of AI, risk management, and financial services. If the trends described materialize—particularly the move to real-time risk monitoring and the need for differentiated data assets—demand for advanced AI-driven credit and risk tools could increase, potentially expanding Zest AI’s addressable market among banks and credit unions. The emphasis on the widening AI divide suggests continued opportunities to serve community and mid-sized institutions that lack in-house AI capabilities.

The focus on regulatory engagement and risk detection also indicates that compliance-ready AI solutions may become a critical buying criterion for financial institutions, which could benefit vendors that can demonstrate transparent, auditable models. While the LinkedIn post itself is primarily promotional and does not disclose financial metrics, it signals Zest AI’s strategic intent to align its product roadmap with anticipated regulatory and competitive shifts in banking, potentially reinforcing its industry position as AI adoption accelerates in 2026.