The U.S. Treasury Department has significantly ramped up its fight against fraud, using artificial intelligence (AI) to recover a staggering $4 billion in improper payments over the past fiscal year. This tech-driven approach, highlighted in a recent Treasury statement, demonstrates the power of AI in protecting taxpayer dollars and safeguarding the financial system.
In the 2024 fiscal year, AI helped stop $1 billion in cheque fraud and identified an additional $3 billion in improper payments, marking a sixfold increase in fraud prevention compared to the previous year. According to Treasury official Renata Miskell, AI allows the agency to detect hidden patterns and anomalies that fraudsters often use to exploit the system.
AI technology is not only transforming the Treasury’s operations but is also aiding other federal agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS, leveraging AI to boost its audit processes, recovered $1.3 billion in tax fraud from wealthy taxpayers in 2024 alone. With fraud on the rise, these technological advancements are proving crucial in tackling financial crime.
However, experts caution that as AI’s role in the financial sector expands, it brings both opportunities and risks. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has emphasized the importance of responsible AI innovation, ensuring that the financial system benefits from increased efficiency without compromising on safety and risk management principles.
Source: Aljazeera
