Dr Lerong Lu, Reader in Law at King’s College London, provided expert commentary to The Banker, a Financial Times publication, for its report, “China’s AI Push Collides with Employment Priorities (24 June 2026)”

The article examines a recent Chinese employment case concerning an employee whose work was said to have been replaced by artificial intelligence. It considers the wider implications of the decision for banks, financial institutions and regulators as AI becomes increasingly embedded in banking operations.

Dr Lu commented that China’s largest banks are already advanced users of AI, supported by extensive data resources, substantial technology investment and strong institutional capacity. Their deployment of AI is increasingly comparable to that of major international banks, including HSBC and JPMorgan. He also highlighted the need to assess AI adoption in banking within China’s wider economic and policy framework. In particular, major state-owned banks are expected not only to pursue commercial efficiency, but also to support economic growth, financial stability, employment and broader national policy objectives.

The article contributes to a growing international debate about the impact of AI on employment, organisational accountability and responsible innovation in financial services. It also highlights the need for banks and regulators to balance technological development with fair employment practices, public trust and social stability.

Dr Lu’s comments appeared alongside contributions from academics and policy experts from the University of New South Wales, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the University of Southern California and Pantheon Macroeconomics.