The dominant mood is pragmatism and caution, not of excitement . And respondents believe its effects are inevitable: AI will reshape the sector regardless of whether we want it to. Very few respondents sound like AI evangelists. Overall, they consistently say that AI is... Useful Inevitable Dangerous Dependent for its success on data quality A tool that should complement humans rather than replace them Introducing five broad themes from the responses In a sentence... The future of AI in financial inclusion will depend less on what the technology can do, than if and how responsible institutions choose to use it . AI-led credit appraisal could expand outreach to thin-file customers and informal businesses. But bias, transparency, explainability, data privacy and the exclusion of digitally invisible populations must be addressed if AI is to strengthen rather than undermine inclusive finance. Asongo Abraham, Founder and CEO, Jaress Agfinance Ltd AI is a black box, which makes using it at scale for automated underwriting risky. However, it can still create real value by accelerating manual, error-prone and tedious tasks, such as collecting KYC information and loan- application details. US-based researcher Menu Menu Close Close 1. Introduction, context & respondents 1.1. Welcome to the Financial Inclusion Compass 2026 1.1. Welcome to the Financial Inclusion Compass 2026 2. Results 2.1. A sector adapting on several fronts at once: what respondents told us 2.1. A sector adapting on several fronts at once: what respondents told us Five themes Introducing five broad themes from the responses Introducing five broad themes from the responses Analysis & implication 4.1. Difficult choices ahead 4.1. Difficult choices ahead 1.2. A listening exercise, not a census 1.2. A listening exercise, not a census 1.3. A diverse field of voices 1.3. A diverse field of voices 2.2. Shared concerns, different exposure 2.2. Shared concerns, different exposure 2.3. Where you sit shapes what you see 2.3. Where you sit shapes what you see From access to resilience From Access to Resilience Adapting to the new normal Adapting to the new normal Promise without guardrails Promise without guardrails Who pays for inclusion? Who pays for inclusion? Navigating a fragmented and complex landscape Navigating a fragmented and complex landscape 4.2. What does it all mean? 4.2. What does it all mean? 4.3. Five questions that will shape the next phase of financial inclusion 4.3. Five questions that will shape the next phase of financial inclusion 4.4. About the Compass 4.4. About the Compass