Fed's Waller Addresses AI Agents' Role in Payments at Sibos 2026

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller delivered remarks at Sibos 2026 in Miami, Florida, addressing the growing intersection of artificial intelligence agents and the modern payments system. The speech underscores the Fed's increasing attention to how automated, AI-driven tools are beginning to influence financial transactions at scale.

AI agents — software systems capable of autonomously executing tasks on behalf of users — are emerging as a significant force in financial services, with potential applications ranging from automated bill payment to complex multi-party transaction orchestration. Waller's appearance at Sibos, one of the financial industry's premier global conferences, signals that central bank policymakers are closely monitoring these developments.

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The choice of venue reflects broader industry momentum. Sibos draws together banks, payment processors, market infrastructure operators, and technology firms, making it a natural forum for regulators to engage with practitioners on fast-moving innovations. A Fed governor speaking on AI and payments suggests the central bank views the topic as material to its oversight responsibilities.

While the full text of Waller's prepared remarks covers the specifics of his policy positions and analytical framework, the subject matter itself points to an evolving regulatory conversation about how AI-driven automation may affect transaction speed, fraud risk, settlement integrity, and consumer protection within the U.S. and global payments ecosystem.

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