AI & Technology
HSBC Tells Staff Not to Fight AI as Banks Accelerate Automation
The lender says artificial intelligence will destroy some jobs but also create new ones, as the banking sector pushes deeper into automation.
By 19Network Editorial Team · May 22, 2026 · 3 min read
HSBC is urging employees to adapt to AI rather than resist it, joining a growing list of banks that are using automation to reshape their workforce.
HSBC has delivered one of the clearest messages yet from a major global bank on the future of artificial intelligence in the workplace: do not fight it. In remarks reported by Reuters and other outlets, the bank’s leadership told staff that AI will destroy some jobs while also creating new ones, as the industry continues to automate more tasks and streamline operations. The message reflects a shift that is now visible across financial services. Banks are under pressure to reduce costs, improve efficiency and keep pace with rivals adopting digital tools at speed. In that environment, AI is no longer being treated as an experimental add-on. It is becoming a core operational tool that influences customer service, compliance, analysis and internal workflows. What makes HSBC’s comments notable is the tone. Rather than framing AI as a threat to be managed slowly, the bank is asking employees to accept change and work with it. Reuters reported that CEO Georges Elhedery urged staff not to feel “disenfranchised” or “anxious,” and said AI could help them become more productive versions of themselves. That kind of language suggests the bank wants to pair automation with reassurance. The…