AI adoption in the financial services sector is not yet triggering widespread layoffs, according to recent findings. Despite growing integration of artificial intelligence across banks and financial institutions, a significant majority of executives remain confident that AI will maintain or even expand workforce levels in the near term. In EY’s Quarterly CEO Outlook Survey, 60% of the 240 financial services CEOs surveyed believe that investing in AI will keep their headcount stable or increase it by 2026. Only 28% anticipate a reduction in staff this year. Leaders at major institutions like JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs have echoed this sentiment, noting that while efficiency gains are a priority, they are not opting to cut jobs in favor of automation at scale—especially not in the short term. While some roles are being redefined or phased out, full-scale replacement of human workers remains limited. Citi CEO Jane Fraser recently informed employees in an internal memo that certain positions “will no longer be required” as AI capabilities evolve, signaling a shift in job functions rather than mass job elimination. Financial executives are highly optimistic about AI’s transformative potential. Nearly half of the surveyed CEOs identified AI and digital investments as the most critical drivers of long-term success and adaptability. A substantial portion—25%—reported that their AI initiatives have already exceeded expectations, and 57% said results have materialized faster than anticipated. Generative AI is seen as the primary catalyst for change, with more than half of respondents expecting it to deliver the most significant transformations. Talent acquisition remains a key challenge, but confidence is high. Eighty-seven percent of CEOs surveyed expressed optimism about their ability to attract and retain top AI talent in 2026, even amid intense competition across industries. At the same time, financial leaders are under increasing pressure to demonstrate tangible returns on their AI investments. Seventy-six percent of board members said they plan to evaluate the return on transformation initiatives as frequently as they review financial performance. As investors and analysts scrutinize the value of billion-dollar AI bets, firms across the industry are being called upon to justify their spending and show measurable impact on operations, productivity, and profitability.