Ant International has unveiled AI SHIELD, a comprehensive security framework designed to strengthen the safety and reliability of AI-powered financial services. The initiative aims to reduce the risk of AI-related vulnerabilities—such as unauthorized access and data leakage—by up to 90% through advanced assessment techniques and continuous safeguards. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in financial operations, security concerns are growing. According to the European Journal of Futures Research, AI-related incidents could cost businesses up to $57 billion annually. Despite 90% of organizations actively using large language models (LLMs), only 5% feel confident in their AI security readiness. AI SHIELD is built around the AI Security Docker, a system that ensures AI models operate safely and ethically throughout their lifecycle—from development to deployment. It addresses core challenges like bias, security flaws, and misuse, especially critical in high-stakes applications such as fraud detection, payment authorization, and customer service chatbots. One major risk in AI-driven finance is over-delegation, where autonomous agents make decisions without sufficient oversight. This can lead to unsafe or unauthorized transactions. AI Security Docker mitigates this by enforcing strict controls, ensuring that AI agents act only within defined boundaries and with proper user authorization. The framework delivers full-cycle protection across Ant International’s global network, which serves over 100 million merchants and 1.8 billion users across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Key services include Alipay+, Antom, Bettr, and WorldFirst. AI SHIELD-powered solutions help defend against sophisticated threats like deepfake attacks, account takeovers, and digital fraud. For example, Alipay+ EasySafePay 360, launched in September 2025, has reduced account takeover incidents in digital wallet payments by 90%, demonstrating the real-world impact of the new system. Ant International is also strengthening trust through strategic cross-sector partnerships. The Digital Wallet Guardian Partnership brings together Ant International, AlipayHK—the most widely used e-wallet in Hong Kong—and TNG eWallet, Malaysia’s top e-wallet, to enhance global wallet security. Tianyi Zhang, General Manager of Risk Management and Cybersecurity at Ant International, emphasized the importance of trusted AI: “Trusted AI could be a defining factor in unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence in financial services. We’re committed to working with partners to build the most advanced risk management frameworks—using AI to strengthen AI.” The company is also a founding partner of the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2), an open industry standard developed with Google that defines how AI agents can securely and reliably conduct transactions with user consent. In addition, Ant International launched the Alipay+ GenAI Cockpit in June 2025, enabling fintechs and superapp operators to design custom AI agents and AI-native services for their users. With headquarters in Singapore and operations across multiple continents, Ant International continues to lead in responsible innovation, combining cutting-edge technology with strong governance to drive inclusive growth in digital finance.