Why governance matters now
“The future of banking will increasingly be powered by AI,” said Sumee Seetharaman, Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Practice at TD. “Our Responsible AI Principles are designed to help the Bank scale that technology responsibly, with the governance, oversight and transparency needed to maintain the trust our clients place in us every day.”
That trust question cuts directly to the advisor-client relationship. A 2026 TD AI Insights Report found that Canadians are most comfortable with AI for routine, time-sensitive banking tasks but most prefer human support when financial decisions carry real consequences. Seventy-one per cent said they place greater confidence in human intelligence over AI financial advice overall.
That gap between human trust and AI trust represents both a challenge and an opportunity for advisory firms and it underscores why the frameworks financial institutions put around AI matter as much to clients as the technology itself.
TD’s Responsible AI Principles are embedded throughout the lifecycle of AI systems  from initial design and development through deployment and ongoing monitoring and are operationalised by TD’s specialised Trustworthy AI team, a group of scientists focused on advancing the safe and secure use of the technology. The bank is also incorporating the principles into employee education programs, helping colleagues understand expectations around responsible AI use.
Ajai Bambawale, Chief Risk Officer at TD, described the framework’s dual purpose: “Trust has always been the foundation of banking, and that won’t change as AI becomes more deeply embedded in our industry. Our Responsible AI Principles provide a clear framework for adopting these technologies responsibly, enabling innovation while requiring transparency, accountability and trust at every step.”