What AI applications are delivering the clearest ROI in financial services?

The provided sources indicate significant AI investments in financial services, including insurance and banking, but highlight persistent questions about ROI rather than clear successes [1][2][12]. Specific applications showing potential for ROI include AI-driven investment thesis evaluation, where tools like 'Devil’s Advocate' agents on platforms such as Amazon Bedrock enhance efficiency, accuracy, and speed in assessing assumptions and counterarguments, leading to better funding decisions and reduced risks in capital allocation [4]. Additionally, AI automation of routine tasks and predictive analytics in finance functions are positioned as productivity multipliers that support faster insights, risk oversight, and strategic analysis, though only 6% of firms have achieved advanced implementations amid a broader automation gap [3][8][9]. Overall, sources emphasize long-term value creation and the need to prove ROI beyond experimentation, with productivity gains noted as a key benefit [5][6][12].