AI in Fintech: Deriv's path to a tech-first future

As we move into 2025, I want to share some thoughts about the direction of AI at Deriv. Over the last two years, we’ve seen a very quick shift of AI changing from a concept into a reality. And what’s happening now is that it’s redefining industries—including our own. 

2024 at Deriv: A year of technological breakthroughs

What stood out from 2024 was the unprecedented pace of change. Our experiments with no-code and low-code platforms delivered results within weeks rather than the months we’d anticipated. Not everything worked the first time, of course - we had our share of failed experiments that we had to figure out - but the speed of progress surprised us all, even the AI evangelists at Deriv! Then, we had another breakthrough: the non-tech departments began initiating their own AI projects. 

Companies using AI - Our vision for 2025

We’re now building on these learnings, with AI access opened up across the company. Our Applied AI department helps both technical and non-technical teams implement AI effectively. Innovation can come from anyone with a good idea and the passion to transform how we work. 

AI for productivity

While implementation needs to be strategic, our focus is clear: enhancing human capability rather than replacing it. Here’s how we’re doing this:

• Development teams are using tools like Cline, Cursor, and Devin to handle routine tasks, freeing them up for complex problem-solving that requires human insight and creativity.
  
  
• In client service, we’re aiming to automate 85% of routine requests. This lets our team focus their expertise where it matters most—helping clients with complex needs that require personal understanding.
  
  
• For compliance, AI helps us streamline regulatory requirements through automated KYC/AML checks and transaction monitoring, breaking complex regulations into manageable steps. This allows our teams to focus their expertise on critical risk assessments rather than administrative tasks.
  
  
• Our marketing and communications teams are using AI strategically - from content creation to brand sentiment analysis and media planning - while maintaining our authentic voice through human oversight.
  
  
• We’re building AI capabilities from within by combining targeted recruitment of AI talent and upskilling our existing teams. Our goal is to create an AI-first mindset that everyone can be part of.
  
  
• Our external AI Hackathons and internal Monthly AI Innovation Contests, with a prize pool for projects that can add value to Deriv’s day-to-day operations, are uncovering practical solutions. We have a lot of talent and passion at Deriv, so it’ll be exciting to see what entries come our way! 

Broader implications for AI in business

In fintech, AI must serve both efficiency and trust. We’re applying this principle across:

• Fraud detection, where AI supports rather than replaces human oversight
• Trading issue prevention, refined after learning from early systems
• Market data analysis, balanced between accessibility and maintaining necessary complexity

After a year of rapid change, AI is going to be central to how we grow and scale. 

We’re looking for highly skilled AI engineers to join us and drive this strategy forward, so reach out!
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Jean-Yves Sireau
Founder and co-CEO, Deriv