News Center



Home News Center News

Digital Financial Innovation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Dec 12-2025   



On 22 November 2025, The institute of Digital Finance of Peking University (IDF) hosted a thematic symposium to mark the tenth anniversary of its establishment. Focusing on the topic of “Digital Financial Innovation and Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”, the event brought together distinguished guests from the worlds of academia, industry, and policymaking from around the globe. Participants reflected on IDF’s decade-long journey, explored the latest trends in the convergence of AI and digital finance, and shared their thoughts on new directions for industry innovation and academic research. The symposium was jointly organised by IDF and Peking University’s National School of Development.图片

During the keynote address, Yi Gang, Chairman of the Council of the China Society of Finance and former Governor of the People’s Bank of China, gave a presentation on “Digital Finance and Privacy Protection”. He emphasised that digital finance is fundamentally a financial activity involving risk management and resource allocation through contractual arrangements, requiring dual drivers of technological advancement and legal governance. China’s digital finance sector, particularly mobile payments, is leading the way globally thanks to market innovation, regulatory forbearance from the authorities, and robust infrastructure development. The future healthy development of digital finance hinges on privacy protection. This requires the further refinement of relevant laws and regulations, strict adherence to principles such as data minimisation and transparent consent, and the effective implementation of data protection responsibilities by entities that collect data.

Jing Xiandong, Chairman of Ant Group, shared his insights on “Digital Finance Practices and Future Outlook” based on the company’s experience. Over the past two decades, Ant has dedicated itself to inclusive digital finance, serving a vast number of small and micro enterprises and individuals. He noted that China has achieved global leadership in digital payments through a well-constructed ecosystem underpinned by regulatory guidance, market innovation and academic support, delivering widespread accessibility and inclusive benefits. Over the next decade, emerging technologies such as intelligent systems and tokenisation are set to reshape financial services and business models. Ant Group will leverage AI as its core driver to explore more inclusive digital intelligence applications and innovative services. He expressed hope that, through collaborative efforts between regulators, academia and the market, the industry will continue to develop inclusive financial services on a secure foundation.

Subsequently, Shen Yan, Deputy Director of IDF, released the research report “The International Inclusive Effects of China’s Digital Finance Going Global”. The report identified two primary models for China’s digital finance expansion abroad: technology-driven and service-driven. The former focuses on Belt and Road countries and the Global South, with fintech companies and banks as the main players. Since the pandemic, the trend has shifted towards middle-income countries. The report also emphasised that overseas expansion effectively broadens corporate footprints, alleviates financing constraints, drives innovation, and significantly boosts local employment and SME benefits. However, compliance and policy uncertainties remain major challenges. Recommendations include localised operations, enhanced institutional complementarity and infrastructure cooperation.

The afternoon seminar focused on two cutting-edge topics: “AI Applications in Finance” and “AI and Finance Research”. Multiple academic representatives engaged in in-depth discussions on the following key subjects: the development trends of large-scale model technologies and their applications within the financial sector, along with associated challenges; the essence of financial innovation and its core elements; the compatibility between technology and business operations; and the latest global trends in AI finance research.

Digital Financial Innovation in the Era of Artificial Intelligence

Dec 12-2025   



On 22 November 2025, The institute of Digital Finance of Peking University (IDF) hosted a thematic symposium to mark the tenth anniversary of its establishment. Focusing on the topic of “Digital Financial Innovation and Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence”, the event brought together distinguished guests from the worlds of academia, industry, and policymaking from around the globe. Participants reflected on IDF’s decade-long journey, explored the latest trends in the convergence of AI and digital finance, and shared their thoughts on new directions for industry innovation and academic research. The symposium was jointly organised by IDF and Peking University’s National School of Development.图片

During the keynote address, Yi Gang, Chairman of the Council of the China Society of Finance and former Governor of the People’s Bank of China, gave a presentation on “Digital Finance and Privacy Protection”. He emphasised that digital finance is fundamentally a financial activity involving risk management and resource allocation through contractual arrangements, requiring dual drivers of technological advancement and legal governance. China’s digital finance sector, particularly mobile payments, is leading the way globally thanks to market innovation, regulatory forbearance from the authorities, and robust infrastructure development. The future healthy development of digital finance hinges on privacy protection. This requires the further refinement of relevant laws and regulations, strict adherence to principles such as data minimisation and transparent consent, and the effective implementation of data protection responsibilities by entities that collect data.

Jing Xiandong, Chairman of Ant Group, shared his insights on “Digital Finance Practices and Future Outlook” based on the company’s experience. Over the past two decades, Ant has dedicated itself to inclusive digital finance, serving a vast number of small and micro enterprises and individuals. He noted that China has achieved global leadership in digital payments through a well-constructed ecosystem underpinned by regulatory guidance, market innovation and academic support, delivering widespread accessibility and inclusive benefits. Over the next decade, emerging technologies such as intelligent systems and tokenisation are set to reshape financial services and business models. Ant Group will leverage AI as its core driver to explore more inclusive digital intelligence applications and innovative services. He expressed hope that, through collaborative efforts between regulators, academia and the market, the industry will continue to develop inclusive financial services on a secure foundation.

Subsequently, Shen Yan, Deputy Director of IDF, released the research report “The International Inclusive Effects of China’s Digital Finance Going Global”. The report identified two primary models for China’s digital finance expansion abroad: technology-driven and service-driven. The former focuses on Belt and Road countries and the Global South, with fintech companies and banks as the main players. Since the pandemic, the trend has shifted towards middle-income countries. The report also emphasised that overseas expansion effectively broadens corporate footprints, alleviates financing constraints, drives innovation, and significantly boosts local employment and SME benefits. However, compliance and policy uncertainties remain major challenges. Recommendations include localised operations, enhanced institutional complementarity and infrastructure cooperation.

The afternoon seminar focused on two cutting-edge topics: “AI Applications in Finance” and “AI and Finance Research”. Multiple academic representatives engaged in in-depth discussions on the following key subjects: the development trends of large-scale model technologies and their applications within the financial sector, along with associated challenges; the essence of financial innovation and its core elements; the compatibility between technology and business operations; and the latest global trends in AI finance research.