The survey, which included a working group of ten central banks from Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia managing roughly US$6.5 trillion in assets, found that over 60% of respondents said they are not using AI for central banking's core functions. Instead, AI is mostly used for routine analytical tasks, such as summarizing data or scanning markets.
According to the report, the institutions most engaged with AI were also among the most cautious; many expressed concern that AI‑driven decisions could 'accelerate future crises.' As one participant was quoted saying: 'AI helps us see more, but decisions must remain with people.'
On the issue of digital assets, the survey showed that 93% of the central banks do not invest in them. While tokenization is viewed with interest, cryptocurrencies are approached with caution.
Regarding reserve currencies, the survey indicated a shift among some central banks toward a more multipolar reserve system. Nearly 60% of the institutions signalled a desire to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar.
Despite this, the unmatched liquidity of U.S. Treasuries remain a strong anchor, meaning the dollar continues to dominate global reserves.
The findings suggest that, for now, many central banks prefer a cautious, risk‑averse approach when it comes to adopting new technologies and shifting reserve practices.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/economy/article/global-central-banks-cautious-on-ai
