Lloyds Banking Group is putting its entire senior leadership team — including chief executive Charlie Nunn — through an intensive six-month artificial intelligence (AI) bootcamp as the bank commits to embedding generative AI across its operations.
The programme, created by education technology firm Cambridge Spark in collaboration with experts from the University of Cambridge, is designed to teach Lloyds’ most senior executives how to “reimagine the future of banking” through the use of AI.
According to the bank, around 300 senior managers will take part in the bespoke course, which requires 80 hours of study over six months. More than 110 leaders have already completed the training since its launch in March, with the full executive committee — including Nunn, finance chief William Chalmers, and Scottish Widows boss Chirantan Barua — expected to finish by the end of 2026.
“This is a huge signal of intent from Lloyds,” one industry source said. “They’re not just delegating AI to data scientists — they’re training the people making the strategic decisions.”
The move is part of Lloyds’ broader digital transformation strategy, which has seen it accelerate branch closures, expand online banking services, and designate Bristol as its UK ‘AI capital’, home to its largest cluster of technology specialists.
The bank has grown a team of nearly 1,300 tech and data experts, alongside hundreds of new apprentices and graduates, as it pushes to integrate AI into areas such as fraud prevention, customer service, and risk management.
Industry leaders have praised Lloyds’ initiative as a model for AI adoption in financial services.
Kenny MacAulay, CEO of Acting Office, said: “Mastering AI should be a top priority for every CEO. With financial services facing seismic challenges, learning how to deploy disruptive technology to streamline services and deliver better customer experiences must be at the top of every boardroom agenda.”
Raj Abrol, co-founder and CEO of Galytix, which works with several major banks, said: “Being equipped with the latest AI knowledge is no longer optional for senior banking executives. With complex regulation, data privacy and risk management challenges mounting, AI capabilities are essential to stay ahead of the competition.”
Lloyds’ push into AI follows similar moves by global rivals such as JPMorgan Chase, HSBC, and Barclays, which have all invested heavily in machine learning and automation tools to boost efficiency and improve customer experience.
For Lloyds, the AI bootcamp signals a long-term commitment to educating its leaders at every level in the technology that will define the next phase of banking transformation.
As one senior source at the bank put it: “The future of finance isn’t just about adopting AI — it’s about understanding it.”
