Innovation in the Service of Trust
Artificial intelligence offers new opportunities to better understand customer needs, improve operational efficiency and enhance risk management. However, its development also raises important questions around ethics, transparency, security and societal impact. For BNP Paribas, the challenge is therefore not merely to adopt more AI tools. It is to ensure that the technologies deployed operate within a clear framework, enabling us to harness their full potential while maintaining control over them over the long term.
Principles to Guide Artificial Intelligence
BNP Paribas’ approach is founded on a simple belief: artificial intelligence must be developed and used in an ethical, reliable and rights-respecting manner. This approach is built around five guiding principles:
- Fairness and non-discrimination
- Transparency and explainability
- Protection of data and fundamental rights
- Human oversight of decision-making
- Skills development
People at the Heart of the Transformation
Artificial intelligence does not replace human expertise; it complements it. By automating certain repetitive or low-value-added tasks, it enables teams to devote more time to activities that require analysis, judgement, creativity or the quality of customer relationships. This transformation must be accompanied by the development of new skills.
Understanding how AI systems work, recognising their limitations and applying critical judgement to their outputs are becoming essential capabilities in a rapidly evolving workplace. Human oversight therefore remains a fundamental principle: important decisions must always be capable of being understood, monitored and, where necessary, corrected.
To support this transition, BNP Paribas invests in awareness-raising and training initiatives designed to foster a shared understanding of artificial intelligence. The Group has developed a structured learning offering focused on artificial intelligence, data and digital technologies, enabling everyone to acquire the skills needed to thrive in a constantly changing environment. In 2025 alone, nearly 80,000 employees benefited from AI-related training. Among the most popular courses is the Introduction to GenAI module, which has been completed by more than 30,000 employees since its launch.
Methods and Partnerships to Develop Trustworthy AI
BNP Paribas relies on a robust risk management framework covering all models used across the Group, whether or not they are based on artificial intelligence. These systems are subject to controls, validation processes and independent reviews to ensure their reliability, performance and compliance. For generative AI, specific methodologies and tools complement this framework in order to strengthen security and ensure responsible use.
The Group also takes part in collaborative initiatives that bring together businesses, researchers, experts and civil society stakeholders. BNP Paribas is actively involved in leading ecosystems such as Hub France IA and CIGREF, which encourage the sharing of best practices and collective reflection on the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence.
The Group also develops high-level academic partnerships, notably through the FinAI Lab joint research laboratory with Télécom Paris, as well as a recent collaboration with Mila, the world-renowned Canadian AI research institute. These partnerships help advance research and turn responsible AI principles into practical, scalable and impactful solutions.
One Ambition: Putting Innovation at the Service of Society
Artificial intelligence opens up new opportunities to improve services, accelerate innovation and help address a wide range of economic and societal challenges. For BNP Paribas, the priority is to ensure that this technology serves progress while remaining controlled, transparent and respectful of people. By relying on strong governance, demanding standards, research partnerships and skills development, the Group aims to contribute to an artificial intelligence that creates lasting value for its customers, employees and society as a whole.
