Artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving from a tool that assists human decision-making into technology capable of acting independently. The next frontier, often referred to as agentic AI or agentic commerce, envisions AI agents negotiating contracts, making purchases, authorizing payments, and completing commercial transactions with little or no human intervention.

While enormous investments are being made to develop this technology, far less attention has been devoted to an equally important question: What legal infrastructure will govern autonomous commercial transactions?… Continue Reading

The Federal Trade Commission recently issued a proposed policy statement that could reshape how financial services firms use AI-powered tools. The proposed statement, titled “Proposed Policy Statement Concerning the Suppression of Accuracy in Artificial Intelligence Systems,” puts AI developers on notice that altering AI outputs away from accuracy, even if done to comply with a state law, may constitute consumer deception under Section 5 of the FTC Act.… Continue Reading

AI is already part of everyday work at growing companies. Employees use it to draft emails, summarize documents, generate marketing copy, assist with coding, and prepare meeting notes. In some organizations, that adoption has happened informally. The tools arrived first, and internal rules are still playing catch-up.

That sequence may create problems.… Continue Reading

On June 25, 2026, DC-based Women in Housing & Finance hosted Senior Advisor and Counsel to the Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Elie Greenbaum, for a wide-ranging discussion on the Bureau’s current policy priorities and regulatory outlook. Following are notable updates on the CFPB’s agenda for industry participants. This report is based on the input of several members of our Consumer Financial Services Group who attended the meeting. … Continue Reading

Adam Maarec, Stephanie A. Sheridan, and Meegan Brooks, all members of Ballard Spahr’s Litigation Department, examined the effect of artificial intelligence-powered shopping tools on consumers and brands alike.

Writing for TotalRetail, they outline key legal issues that companies should look out for, as well as recommended actions to be best prepared for the evolving landscape around AI.… Continue Reading

In this episode, Adam Maarec sits down with fintech thought leader Simon Taylor for a lively fireside chat focused on the rapidly evolving world of fintech, payments, and banking innovation. Adam, an experienced legal and regulatory advisor in financial services, and Simon, widely recognized for his writing, podcasts, and advisory work with fintechs, banks, VCs, and regulators, delve into some of the most relevant challenges and opportunities shaping the industry today.… Continue Reading

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming consumer financial services and countless other industries. As AI systems become more autonomous, adaptive, and deeply integrated into commercial decision-making, courts, regulators, and industry participants are increasingly confronting a critical question: when AI causes harm, who should be held responsible?

In our latest episode of our award-winning, weekly Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast, our host Alan Kaplinsky (the founder, Chair for 25 years, and now Senior Counsel of our Consumer Financial Services at Ballard Spahr LLP) had the pleasure of speaking with Mark Geistfeld, the Sheila Lubetsky Birnbaum Professor of Civil Litigation at New York University School of Law and the reporter for the American Law Institute’s groundbreaking new project, Principles of the Law, Civil Liability for Artificial Intelligence.… Continue Reading

Today’s episode of the Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast features a wide-ranging and timely discussion about one of the most consequential fair lending developments in years: the CFPB’s final rule fundamentally reshaping enforcement under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and Regulation B.

Hosted by Alan Kaplinsky (the Founder, Chair for 25 years and now Senior Counsel of the Consumer Financial Services Group at Ballard Spahr, LLP), the episode brings together an exceptional panel of fair lending authorities: our special guest Bradley Blower (the Principal and Founder of Inclusive-Partners LLC) along with John Culhane, Jr.,… Continue Reading

After attempting to amend its first-in-the-nation AI law for two years and three legislative sessions, on May 9, 2026, the Colorado legislature passed SB 26-189. It now awaits the governor’s signature and is expected to be signed into law, which will go into effect January 1, 2027.

SB 26-189 replaces the original law’s broad “high-risk artificial intelligence system” and “algorithmic discrimination” framework with a narrower regime focused on “automated decision-making technology” (ADMT) that processes personal data used to “materially influence” a “consequential decision.”… Continue Reading

In the episode of Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast being released today, we explore the White House’s National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence published on March 20, 2026. This new framework represents the Administration’s most concrete attempt yet to shape the future of AI governance in the United States. While it does not carry the force of law, it offers a revealing look at the policy direction the Administration hopes Congress will take.… Continue Reading