AML Tipping Point : All Eyes On AI In Financial Crime

New research from Themis shows AI is rapidly transforming every corner of anti-financial crime (AFC) and compliance, with adoption accelerating fast. This surge in adoption is set to redefine the fight against financial crime.

A new white paper by the leading financial crime specialists reveals a transformative shift in how organisations are deploying — and planning to deploy — AI Building on earlier AI research by Themis — including working with the UAE Government’s National Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Committee (NAMLCFTC) — this latest study offers a timely pulse check on how companies are currently leveraging AI to combat criminal activity and mitigate financial risk.

Titled "AI in Anti-Financial Crime: The State of Adoption in 2025", the report is based on a targeted survey of senior executives and compliance leaders across the public and private sectors. The findings show a rising sense of urgency around AI adoption, as organisations face increasingly sophisticated threats and mounting regulatory pressure.

“The urgency to embrace AI in the fight against financial crime has never been clearer,” said Dickon Johnstone, CEO of Themis. “We’re standing at the edge of a massive shift. AI has the power to transform how we tackle financial crime — but only if leaders are bold enough to move from awareness to action.”

Key Findings at a Glance

• AI set to surge in financial crime fight: over half of non-users plan for full adoption within 3 years

• 85% of respondents say senior leaders understand AI’s risks and benefits.

• Respondents are already using AI across the full range of AFC and compliance processes.

• Respondents see new AI technology as able to save time and cut costs.

• Novel AI tools are seen as essential to organisations’ ability to deal with a rapidly evolving risk landscape.

What the Research Reveals

Themis’ research reveals three major trends shaping the future of AI in AFC:
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• AI adoption in financial crime is gaining momentum
  AI is gaining traction across the AFC space, with 51% of organisations not yet using the technology planning to fully implement it within the next three years. Early adopters are already seeing impact — putting AI to work in due diligence, KYC streamlining, and complex investigations. This shows that technology in the AFC space is both available and delivering tangible value.
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• AI moving to the top of the agenda for leadership
  Confidence in AI is growing at the top. 85% of respondents said their senior leadership understands both the risks and opportunities AI brings to AFC. No longer seen simply as a tool for efficiency or cost-cutting, AI is increasingly viewed as mission-critical for managing risk in a fast-moving global financial crime environment.
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• Barriers remain but the path to AI adoption is clear
  ‍While challenges like cost, internal expertise gaps, and regulatory uncertainty remain, they’re far from deal-breakers. The outlook is optimistic: with targeted investment, up skilling, and stronger collaboration with regulators, these obstacles are seen as manageable — not insurmountable.

Survey respondents made it clear: AI is fundamentally changing how organisations approach financial crime. The shift allows organisations to go beyond traditional watchlists and screening tools —new AI systems are helping firms identify risks from a wide range of data sources and uncover subtle reputational and behavioural red flags that were previously undetectable. As one respondent puts it, these tools can now "truly assess risks that are only evidenced by very soft or weak signals."

A Call to Action

In an era of ever-more complex, fast-evolving, and global financial crime, AI offers a ground breaking opportunity to fundamentally transform protection strategies for organisations and society alike.

“It’s not about if AI will reshape anti-financial crime,” Said Matt Deacon, CTO of Themis "It’s about how ready your organisation is to lead that change.,”

Explore the full report for comprehensive recommendations and deeper insights into AI’s impact on financial crime. Download the full report and access visuals for media use:

Download the report here‍