Future of Global Fintech Second Edition 2025

Effects of AI on business performance Beyond exploring how and to what extent fintechs were deploying AI, this study sought to understand where the adoption of AI was truly enhancing business performance. Respondents were therefore asked a series of questions about the impact of AI on their businesses. Responses highlighted that AI adoption had largely led to increased profitability. Overall, 74% of fintechs reported that AI brought improvements in their profitability (27% significant improvement and 48% slight improvement) (Figure 28). This effect was felt slightly more in AEs (76%) than EMDEs (73%). Percentages were generally similar across regions – however, it is noteworthy that for 53% of fintechs in SSA, profitability significantly improved. MENA had the highest percentage of firms that did not see changes in profitability after adopting AI (39%), although no fintech reported a decline in profitability. By vertical, 90% of insurtechs (of those, 31% significantly improved) and 85% of digital banking and savings (of those, 58% significantly improved) experienced an improvement in profitability. Impact of AI on profitability FIGURE 28 Significantly improved Slightly improved No changeAEs EMDEsGlobal average 27% 48% 25% 27% 49% 24% 27% 46% 27% About 35% of fintechs reported using AI-enabled market services, while 39% employed AI for add-on services. The Future of Global Fintech: From Rapid Expansion to Sustainable Growth 40