ROAR Insights.

Insights ¦ FCA AI Spotlight

Published by: Financial Conduct Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The article highlights a diverse range of AI solutions transforming financial services, with a focus on bias mitigation, explainability, data integrity, compliance, and operational automation. Several projects are designed to enhance fairness and mitigate bias, including fairness analysis of ML models and promoting inclusivity in credit decisions. Explainability and transparency are central themes, with solutions providing clear decision processes for consumers and stakeholders, supporting regulatory compliance. Data quality… Read more

Insights ¦ Guidance for firms on the fair treatment of vulnerable customers

Published by: Financial Conduct Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Understanding the needs of vulnerable consumers is fundamental to ensuring fair treatment across all stages of the customer journey. Firms are expected to embed the fair treatment of vulnerable customers as part of their organisational culture, with leadership creating an environment that prioritises reducing harm. Staff capabilities play a crucial role; relevant employees must recognise characteristics of vulnerability and respond appropriately, supported by tailored training and practical resources.… Read more

Insights ¦ Consultation Paper CP25/23 Deferred Payment Credit (unregulated Buy Now Pay Later): Proposed approach to regulation

Published by: Financial Conduct Authority Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The FCA is consulting on regulation for Deferred Payment Credit (DPC), also known as unregulated Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL); regulation will commence from July 2026. DPC products are interest-free, repayable in 12 or fewer instalments within 12 months, and currently operate outside FCA regulation, posing consumer protection risks. The proposed regulatory regime aims to improve consumer information, assessment of creditworthiness, and treatment during financial difficulty, relying on… Read more

Insights ¦ KEEPING PACE WHERE NEXT FOR PUBLIC SECTOR COLLECTION PRACTICES?

Published by: Credit Services Association Search for original: Link Key Take Aways Public sector debt recovery practices have historically favoured the government, often at the expense of fair and compassionate treatment for those in debt. The recent government initiatives, including increased staffing at HMRC and new enforcement measures, signal a move towards more aggressive debt recovery in the public sector. There is a recognised imbalance between private and public sector debt recovery, with private sector entities benefiting from more flexible… Read more

Insights ¦ AlphaGo Moment for Model Architecture Discovery

Published by: Shanghai Jiao Tong University, SII, Taptap, GAIR Search for original: Link Key Take Aways The article introduces ASI-ARCH, an autonomous system capable of conducting scientific research in neural architecture discovery, representing a significant step towards AI-driven model innovation. The system moves beyond traditional Neural Architecture Search (NAS), shifting from automated optimisation to genuine automated innovation through hypothesising, implementing, and empirically validating novel architectures. ASI-ARCH autonomously conducted 1,773 experiments over 20,000 GPU hours, leading to the discovery of 106… Read more

Insights: Independent Water Commission – Final Report (21 July 2025)

Summary of the final report for the water industry https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/independent-water-commission-review-of-the-water-sector Summary This report is the final recommendations of the Independent Water Commission following a comprehensive review of the water sector across England and Wales. It identifies systemic challenges and proposes a strategic, legislative, regulatory, and operational overhaul aimed at restoring public trust, enhancing environmental outcomes, and ensuring long-term resilience. The report is structured around seven reform themes and a final implementation chapter, with 88 detailed recommendations targeting government, regulators, and… Read more