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Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance
OrganisationGB

Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance

A research centre at Cambridge Judge Business School studying fintech, digital finance, and alternative finance globally, including annual surveys of AI adoption in financial services.

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance, founded in 2015 within Cambridge Judge Business School, is Britain's primary academic source on AI adoption in financial services, its 2026 survey finding 24% of firms expect net job losses from AI and 52% already running agentic systems.

Last refreshed: 17 July 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

What share of finance firms are now running agentic AI, and do they plan net job cuts?

Timeline for Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance

#17 14 Jul

Mentioned in: Goldman cut 2% and refused the AI excuse

AI: Jobs, Power & Money
#8 8 Jun

Mentioned in: FCA puts Revolut in stablecoin sandbox

UK Startups and Innovation
#12 5 Jun

Published 2026 survey showing net-reduction expectations doubled and 52% agentic AI adoption

AI: Jobs, Power & Money: Finance sheds 22,000 jobs, a first
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Background

The Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance is a research centre within Cambridge Judge Business School that runs independent surveys of digital finance, fintech and alternative lending markets across more than 150 countries. Founded in 2015, it operates without industry sponsorship and publishes its findings openly.

Its flagship output, the annual Global AI in Financial Services survey, has become the reference dataset cited by central banks, regulators including the Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee, and parliamentary inquiries into AI governance. Because it tracks both incumbent banks and challenger fintechs, it is one of the few sources measuring AI adoption across the full breadth of the sector rather than only top-tier lenders.

Common Questions
What did the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance find about AI job losses in 2026?
Its 2026 Global AI in Financial Services survey found that 24% of financial firms expect net role reductions from AI — double the prior year — and that 52% now run agentic AI capable of sustained multi-step autonomous action.Source: Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance 2026 survey
Who is the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance and who funds it?
CCAF is an independent research centre at Cambridge Judge Business School. It publishes open findings covering 150+ countries and operates independently of industry sponsors.
What is agentic AI in financial services?
Agentic AI refers to AI systems capable of sustained multi-step autonomous action — completing complex workflows without human sign-off at each step. The CCAF found 52% of finance firms now deploy it.Source: Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance 2026 survey
How reliable is the CCAF AI survey data compared with official employment statistics?
The CCAF survey is voluntary and self-reported, covering firms rather than individuals. It complements BLS payroll data, which measures actual job changes, by capturing employer intent and AI deployment rates directly.
Source Material
Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance — Cambridge Judge Business School