AI offers new possibilities for the range of critically important anti-financial crime (AFC) and compliance activities undertaken by governments, law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations and private sector institutions around the world. From customer due diligence and money laundering risk detection to forensic investigation and asset recovery, the vital processes that defend global societies against financial crime are open to be transformed by new developments in the field of AI.

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To understand the nature of the fast-evolving role of AI in AFC and equip organisations to take full advantage of new opportunities, Themis, an illicit finance specialist and trusted research partner to government, law enforcement and the private sector, carried out a survey of CEOs, boards, and executive leadership teams (across industries, in public and private sectors) for our latest report, AI in Anti-Financial Crime: The State of Adoption in 2025.

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The survey aimed to assess how decision makers in organisations involved in AFC (across industries, in public and private sectors) are developing strategies and use-cases for AI. We asked nine questions to 74 hand-selected participants. 82% of respondents were senior leaders in their organisations, holding positions as CEOs, founders, owners, directors, board members, heads of compliance and money laundering reporting officers (MLROs). Remaining respondents had roles within their organisations’ compliance, operations and finance functions.

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