Overview

Maribel Lopez interviews Kathleen Peters, Experian's Chief Innovation Officer, about AI's evolution in fraud detection, the shift to generative and agentic AI, and balancing innovation with security in financial services.

Key Topics

AI Evolution at Experian

• 15-year AI journey: Using machine learning for fraud detection long before generative AI
• Democratization shift: Public LLMs like ChatGPT and Claude made AI accessible beyond data scientists
• Innovation labs: 15-year-old team of PhDs and researchers finding insights in vast datasets

Responsible AI Implementation

• Risk Council: Cross-functional team ensuring responsible AI adoption
• Security-first approach: Enterprise tools with guardrails protecting sensitive credit data
• Custom AI stack: Proprietary systems maintaining data privacy while leveraging AI

Agentic AI Applications

• EVA Experian Virtual Assistant (Consumer Assistant): Evolved from chatbot to personalized agent that can take actions like unlocking credit scores
• Business Assistant: Democratizes data science, enabling rapid model development through natural language
• Real-time capabilities: Shifted from batch to real-time fraud detection

AI-Powered Fraud Threats

• Fraudster empowerment: Bad actors adopting AI faster than security measures
• Deep fake risks: Sophisticated impersonation for identity theft and account takeover
• Agent authentication: Challenge distinguishing legitimate vs. fraudulent AI agents
• Industry urgency: Can't wait for regulation; must develop solutions proactively

Key Achievements

• Fast, safe adoption: Chose innovation over waiting, with proper security guardrails
• Product success: Launched consumer EVA and business AI assistants
• Industry leadership: Staying ahead of evolving fraud landscape

Advice for Organizations

1. Establish Risk Council: Cross-functional leadership team for AI governance
2. Define values first: Determine organizational risk tolerance before technical implementation
3. Support curiosity safely: Enable experimentation within secure boundaries
4. Don't wait: Move quickly but responsibly - the technology won't slow down

Key Quote

"If you set up the infrastructure right, then you can let them hack away. You can let people be very curious."

Participants: Maribel Lopez (Host), Kathleen (CIO, Experian)
Focus: #AI #FraudDetection #GenerativeAI #AgenticAI #FinancialServices #Security

Kathleen Peters Chief Innovation Officer NA Fraud, Innovation & Commercialization 

Kathleen Peters leads innovation and strategy for Experian’s Fraud and Identity business in North America, continuously exploring new ways to solve market challenges in identity, risk, and fraud detection. She and her team define business strategies and investment priorities while incubating new products, analyzing industry trends and leveraging the latest technologies to bring ideas to life. Kathleen joined Experian in 2013 to lead business development and global product management for Experian’s newest fraud products. She later served as the Head of the North America Fraud & Identity business, until being named Chief Innovation Officer for Decision Analytics in 2020. Kathleen has twice been named a “Top 100 Influencer in Identity” by One World Identity (now Liminal), an exclusive list that annually recognizes influencers and leaders from across the globe, showcasing a who’s who of people to know in the identity space.For nearly two decades, she has lived in