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RBC maintains strong AI leadership position in financial services

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Ranks #3 overall and #1 in Canada for AI maturity out of 50 global banks

TORONTO, Oct. 17, 2024 /CNW/ – RBC (TSX: RY) (NYSE: RY) has ranked in the top three for the third straight year for artificial intelligence (AI) maturity among 50 global financial institutions in the Evident AI Index. The Index, first issued by AI benchmarking and intelligence platform Evident in January 2023, scores financial institutions across four key pillars: Talent, Innovation, Leadership and Transparency.

RBC was one of only two banks to rank in the top 10 across all four pillars and improved its year-over-year ranking in the two heaviest-weighted pillars – Talent and Innovation. New AI training initiatives for employees helped increase RBC’s ranking in the Talent pillar year over year. And the bank’s strong showing in the Innovation pillar was boosted by ongoing AI partnerships and their impact.

“We’re on a journey to redefine what a bank can do, and tapping into the full potential of transformational technologies like AI is a big part of that,” says Dave McKay, president and CEO, RBC. “RBC remains committed to building innovative, leading-edge solutions that deliver insightful and personalized client experiences, and have a meaningful impact in our clients’ lives. Our leadership position in the Evident AI Index reflects that. Congratulations to all the employees and teams who continue to play a role in our AI journey.”

RBC was an early adopter of AI with the 2016 launch of Borealis AI, a research institute that develops novel AI solutions addressing some of the most fundamental challenges in financial services. As AI technology has evolved, it has become a core strategic enabler for insights as to how we run our business.

“We believe that AI has the potential to change what a bank is capable of,” said Dr. Foteini Agrafioti, SVP, Data & AI and chief science officer, RBC. “Our responsible and ethical approach to AI is helping to simplify and digitize client interactions with us – saving time, enhancing security, adding convenience and reducing the anxiety they may have about their financial futures. We’re pleased to receive this recognition by Evident Insights for our ongoing AI work.”

A responsible and ethical approach
RBC is mindful of the risks around the use of AI and has invested heavily in ensuring the responsible development of AI tools, products and platforms. The bank recently formalized and published a set of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Principles that are part of the bank’s overall ESG commitment and sit at the centre of its AI endeavours, ensuring that high standards of accountability, fairness, privacy and security, and transparency continue to be upheld in all the bank’s AI efforts.

Innovation-led product development
With responsible AI at the foundation, RBC is building leading-edge solutions that have broad and meaningful impact for its clients. Recent developments include:

ATOM: This proprietary foundation model for financial services was trained using large-scale financial datasets, providing it with a breadth of knowledge in financial services. The in-house development and use of cutting-edge science will help enhance RBC’s ability to leverage our capabilities to derive unique insights and develop innovative solutions, all within a responsible AI framework.

Avion Rewards: Canada’s largest proprietary loyalty program, Avion Rewards, uses AI-powered personalization to offer members a more rewarding experience and seamless access to benefits. The personalized reward offers are made possible by leveraging ATOM to simplify and enhance how members engage with RBC’s internationally recognized loyalty program.

Lumina: We have developed an internal data and AI platform that enables RBC to build cutting-edge AI in a safe and scalable way. Lumina houses RBC data with high resilience and enables connectivity across our businesses. Online banking, portfolio management, risk modeling, and fraud detection are some examples of AI solutions enabled by the Lumina platform.

More informed lending decisions: The addition of AI can help us better understand, anticipate and address client financial needs beyond what a traditional credit model can provide. These enhancements can help create more value for clients.

These products are in addition to NOMI, a suite of capabilities that use data-driven insights to help clients stay on top of their finances; and Aiden, an AI-powered electronic trading platform built for our global clients. Aiden applies deep reinforcement learning to the constantly changing environment of equities trading.

Preparing employees for the future
RBC is ensuring its employees are ready for a future where AI may play a bigger role in their jobs. The bank has provided AI training for senior executives and is rolling out training to the broader employee population over the next several months, which will help guide employees through the key concepts of AI and generative AI, how these tools work and how to use them responsibly. Employees currently have access to a self-directed digital learning experience featuring a range of tools designed to build foundational knowledge in AI and generative AI.

RBC Technology’s annual Catalyst Conference brings together thousands of employees over two days for learning and inspiration with the 2024 session featuring more than 25 AI presentations and workshops. And Amplify, an immersive summer innovation program where students in the later years of their postsecondary education experience the opportunity to put their skills to the test to build a theoretical product that could solve tough business challenges, many of which involve solutions that use AI models.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 100,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our more than 18 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/peopleandplanet.

For more information, please contact:
Briana D’Archi, RBC Corporate Communications

SOURCE RBC

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atNorth joins Nordic Compass to support Nordic competitiveness, resilience and industrial innovation

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REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — atNorth, the leading Nordic high-density colocation and built-to-suit data center provider, today announced it has joined Nordic Compass (The Nordic Round Table for Industry), a new pan-Nordic alliance established to strengthen Nordic and European competitiveness, resilience and industrial innovation.

Chaired by former Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, Nordic Compass brings together leading companies, foundations and organizations from across the region to accelerate coordinated action across strategically important sectors, including Capital Markets, Deep Tech, Defense and Energy.

The alliance will present its first set of initiatives at the Nordic Compass Summit in Gothenburg, Sweden, in November 2026.

Advancing Nordic collaboration and sustainable growth

The initiative comes at a time when Europe is accelerating efforts to strengthen technological sovereignty, secure critical infrastructure and support sustainable industrial growth. The Nordic region is already home to globally leading digital, industrial and energy capabilities, yet significant opportunities remain for deeper cross-border collaboration. Nordic Compass seeks to unlock this potential by bringing together industry leaders to align on shared priorities and deliver tangible outcomes.

“Across atNorth, we see firsthand the increasing convergence of digital infrastructure, energy systems and advanced compute across the Nordics,” said Eva Sóley Guðbjörnsdóttir, Chief Financial Officer & Deputy CEO at atNorth. “By working together through Nordic Compass, we can bolster the Nordic’s position in leading sustainable industrial development, helping to accelerate innovation and strengthen regional competitiveness.”

atNorth’s participation reflects the company’s continued commitment to supporting sustainable, sovereign and energy-efficient digital infrastructure across the Nordics. The company is already a signatory of the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact and a participant in global initiatives including the UN Global Compact, as well as being an active member of the European Data Center Association (EUDCA) and other regional data center industry associations in the Nordics. With operations spanning Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Finland, atNorth is well positioned to contribute knowledgeably to discussions and initiatives relating to AI infrastructure, high-performance computing, energy optimization and long-term digital resilience.

Nordic Compass brings together more than 25 leading Nordic organisations including Aker ASA, Alfa Laval, Danfoss, Embla Medical, EY, KONE, Nasdaq Nordic, Nordea, Novo Nordisk Foundation, Vattenfall and Ørsted among others. Through these partnerships, atNorth hopes to support the growth of the Nordic digital infrastructure ecosystem as a leading example to global markets.

About atNorth

atNorth is a leading Nordic data center company that offers cost-effective, scalable high-density colocation and built-to-suit services trusted by industry-leading organizations.

With sustainability at its core, atNorth’s data centers run on renewable energy resources and support circular economy principles. All atNorth sites leverage innovative design, power efficiency, and intelligent operations to provide long-term infrastructure and flexible colocation deployments.

atNorth is headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland and operates eight data centers in strategic locations across the Nordics, as well as a ninth under construction in Kouvola, Finland, a tenth site in Ølgod, Denmark and an eleventh campus in Stockholm, Sweden. The business has also announced a new mega site development in the Sollefteå Municipality in Sweden.

For more information, visit atNorth.com or follow atNorth on LinkedIn.

Press Contact:
Laura Cameron
Mead Cameron for atNorth
+44 (0) 7740 948 378
laura@meadcameron.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com.

https://news.cision.com/atnorth/r/atnorth-joins-nordic-compass-to-support-nordic-competitiveness–resilience-and-industrial-innovation,c4347604

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ZTE Hosts 2026 Broadband User Congress in São Paulo, under the Theme “Monetize Your Intelligent Broadband”

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SÃO PAULO, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, successfully hosted its Broadband User Congress, themed “Monetize Your Intelligent Broadband”. The event gathered over 300 executives from ISPs, operators, government, industry associations, and ecosystem partners across Latin America. Driven by network cost reduction, efficiency improvement and home service innovation, the congress presented comprehensive intelligent broadband monetization solutions for Latin America. These help operators and ISPs move beyond pipe-only models, boosting basic network ARPU, diversifying revenues and reshaping competitiveness.

Fang Hui, Senior Vice President of ZTE, stated: “With over 20 years of presence in Latin America, ZTE has delivered hundreds of landmark projects and served over 100 million users in Brazil. We will drive premium experiences through technological innovation, unlock growth potential through win-win partnerships, and empower industrial transformation with AI. Leveraging our full-stack ‘Connectivity + Computing’ capabilities, we are committed to building an open, intelligent digital ecosystem and co-creating new value with Latin American partners.”

ZTE showcased innovative network operation concepts and upgraded portfolios, translating “Monetize Your Intelligent Broadband” into deployable and profitable practices.

For operator broadband network construction, ZTE is committed to building the best-in-class broadband network for every customer.

In access, ZTE’s FTTx monetization solutions lower network deployment barriers via lightweight OLTs, adopt CEM+AI to enable precise quality analysis and targeted marketing, and expand into the B2B blue ocean market with AI all-optical campus and AI Interactive Flat Panel, balancing cost reduction, efficiency improvement and ARPU growth. The end-to-end intelligent ODN system ensures full-lifecycle network assurance.

In transport, ZTE launched a C+L full-band 1.6T OTN solution enhanced with AI. It delivers breakthroughs in single-wavelength rate, spectrum efficiency, and intelligent O&M, addressing scaling, cost reduction and agile service delivery. It also launched a single-slot 28.8 Tbps core router and high-performance 100GE/400GE aggregation routers, enabling operators to build next-generation IP networks that are ultra-broadband, green, secure, and intelligent, laying a foundation for broadband value upgrade.

In smart O&M, the AIOps platform significantly improves fault diagnosis efficiency. It reduces OPEX and drives evolution toward L4 autonomous networks.

For home broadband, ZTE leverages strong technology and continuous AI innovation to ensure optimal TCO.

In smart connectivity, AI Wi-Fi 7 serves as the core, leveraging advantages in specifications, coverage, control, hardware, software and supply chain to help operators optimize TCO and achieve precise selection.

In smart home value-added services, large-model capabilities empower AI O&M, AI cameras and AI Smart View, creating new home experiences integrating smart control, fitness, entertainment and security, shifting from basic connectivity to high-value services.

In smart operations, the SCP platform enables unified home device management with remote diagnostics, one-click optimization, stolen-device locking and targeted VAS marketing, reducing O&M costs, stabilizing revenue and building efficient systems for sustainable monetization.

ZTE empowers ISPs to increase revenue through lightweight deployment and converged efficiency.

Light PON enables fast, cost-effective network deployment, shortening time-to-market.

Light OTN features a 12.8T-in-2U high-density design with minimalist WebGUI management, supporting single-wavelength 1.6T, zero-touch deployment and plug-and-play, reducing costs and O&M complexity while ensuring optimal TCO.

Light IP Network provides end-to-end lightweight IP convergence from CPE to backbone, built on a unified open architecture, smooth product evolution and AI-powered minimalist O&M, enabling heterogeneous network integration and safeguarding ISP operations.

At the event, ZTE launched the new-generation TV 3.0 set-top box, marking a new phase in Brazil’s digital TV upgrade. ZTE and MediaTek jointly introduced Wi-Fi 7 and 10G PON solutions for premium home and SMB scenarios, helping operators tap high-value users. Qualcomm and ZTE are collaborating on next-generation networking infrastructure for the AI Era, combining Qualcomm’s AI-native Wi-Fi and FWA platforms with ZTE’s access and networking leadership.

Lu Maoliang, President of ZTE Brazil, commented: “Brazil is a core strategic market for ZTE. With 25 years of localized operations in Latin America, we have served over 100 operators and ISPs, deployed more than 60,000 km of optical fiber, and reached over 30 million households. This congress precisely addresses local demands, delivering leading technologies and products while focusing on driving customers’ sustainable commercial success.”

MEDIA INQUIRIES:
ZTE Corporation
Communications
Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn

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SOURCE ZTE Corporation

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B2B Marketing Summit in Singapore Convenes Industry Leaders to Discuss the AI Era

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SINGAPORE, May 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marketing leaders from across APAC recently convened at the Marina Bay Sands for The B2B Marketing Summit. The event provided a platform for senior executives to discuss the evolving challenges of B2B marketing, while also marking the 10th anniversary of the summit’s organiser, The Ortus Club.

Over the past decade, the agency has grown from hosting localised roundtables to organising executive knowledge-sharing events for major technology and SaaS organisations, including Canva, OpenAI, Twilio, Freshworks, Stripe, PayPal, and NVIDIA.

How are B2B marketing leaders navigating the AI era?

Jess Circi, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, opened the summit by acknowledging the extraordinary talent gathered at the Marina Bay Sands. Emphasising that this is the most exciting and high-stakes time to be in the field, she framed the core challenges of AI-driven visibility, the crave for human-centric branding, and complex customer journeys. As Circi Maruyama noted: “This room right now welcomes marketing leaders from some of the most ambitious B2B organisations in the region, if not the world. People who are actively figuring out how to navigate this slightly insane time we’re facing in B2B marketing.”

Reflecting on the changing dynamics of the profession, she added:

“Marketing is no longer just ‘support’ for sales. More and more CMOs are turning into Chief Revenue Officers and finally grabbing those seats on the board.”

With nearly 2,000 years of collective marketing experience in the room, the day was set to tackle how leaders are turning these high-stakes challenges into strategic advantages.

How can B2B brands stay relevant amidst zero-click searches?

The core theme of the day centred on maintaining human connection in a digital-first, AI-driven landscape. Navigating this new reality, Constance Tan, speaking on behalf of Ahrefs, shared data regarding zero-click searches and the rise of AI overviews. Tan noted that “AI overviews reduce click-through rates by about 30 percent, and only 38 percent of top ten results appear in AI answers. The rules are not exactly the same. Brand and video mentions are becoming more and more important as sources for the AI machine.”

Nicholas Kontopoulos, representing Twilio, expanded on this theme by highlighting the shift in how buyers educate themselves: “We are starting to see this play out in terms of how our end customers are procuring content. They are now going dark because they are going in by the LLM. It is no longer just about individual buyers, but the buying units involved in making a decision.”

Furthermore, Karen Ko from SailPoint emphasised the critical need for human oversight and data quality in AI integration, stating that “the human factor plays a very critical role in this journey to ensure quality. The output of AI is only as good as the data you feed it—garbage in, garbage out. We must maintain human review and shared governance.”

What makes intimate B2B networking effective in a digital-first world?

The event incorporated several interactive networking initiatives designed to foster genuine connections. Attendees connected using icebreaker cards scattered throughout the room, complemented by a bespoke Twilio cupcake cart that kept the energy dynamic throughout the day. Behind closed doors, VIP attendees and sponsors convened for an unrecorded, private 3-course lunch, an exclusive format that allowed executives to discuss panel topics in greater detail without the pressure of a recording. To top off the experience, a highly coveted raffle prize was provided by The Stag Steakhouse, a recognised venue for B2B events and executive roundtables in Singapore.

Why are event content creators essential to modern B2B campaigns?

The summit also served as a live showcase for The Ortus Club’s expansion into event content creation and podcast curation. On-site, the organisation brought its CMO Chats podcast to life with an active podcast corner. Anya Africa, Head of Operations, interviewed key marketing leaders, while Managing Partner Jamie Aclan conducted floor interviews. This addition to the event portfolio reflects a broader industry demand to capture insights, engage target audiences, and pair events with tailored B2B campaign content.

For those who were unable to attend, curated summaries and discussion breakdowns from the summit can be found at https://b2b-singapore.ortusclub.com/.

Interested in sponsoring an event worth attending? Book a meeting here.

About The Ortus Club

The Ortus Club is a global B2B marketing agency specialising in executive events, roundtables, and summits. Founded on the belief that meaningful connections are built through face-to-face interaction, the agency facilitates executive knowledge-sharing and lead generation for global brands.

Media Contact

The Ortus Club Email: content@ortusclub.com 
Website: https://www.ortusclub.com/

 

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SOURCE The Ortus Club

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