TL;DR

Global securities regulator IOSCO has opened applications for its first TechSprint, hosted in the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s AI Lab. Teams will work on protecting retail investors from AI-enabled fraud and developing AI-powered financial education tools. Applications close 30 April 2026, with a demo day in Madrid on 8 October.

Two challenges for participants

The TechSprint asks selected teams to tackle one or both of two problems facing retail investors:

  • Fraud detection: How to help retail investors identify and avoid AI-enabled scams and fraud
  • Financial education: How technology can educate and empower investors to use AI as a learning tool, while understanding AI-related risks across different regulatory and cultural contexts

Accessibility and cross-border applicability are core requirements for both tracks. IOSCO wants solutions that work across multiple regulatory environments, not just within a single market.

How the programme works

Teams will work virtually over the coming months with regular check-ins and mentoring from IOSCO members. The programme culminates in an in-person Demo Day on 8 October 2026 in Madrid, timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of World Investor Week.

The online application portal is open from 2 March to 30 April 2026. IOSCO is seeking applicants from across the financial ecosystem to form diverse teams with complementary skills.

Why the FCA AI Lab matters

The FCA’s AI Lab provides the infrastructure for this initiative, placing the UK at the centre of international efforts to address AI risks in financial services. IOSCO Board Chair Jean-Paul Servais said technologies like AI “introduce new vulnerabilities: sophisticated and lightning-fast fraud, deep-fakes, and misinformation that can erode confidence and harm consumers.”

Camille Beaudoin, Chair of IOSCO’s Committee on Retail Investors, emphasised that strengthening investor digital skills “has become critical to their financial literacy and protection” as AI reshapes markets.

Looking forward

The TechSprint reflects growing regulatory attention to AI’s dual role in finance — both as a tool for investor empowerment and a vector for new forms of fraud. For UK financial services firms, the FCA’s hosting role signals continued focus on AI governance. The outcomes could shape how regulators worldwide approach AI-related investor protection rules in the coming years.

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