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Citigroup and Ant International, a fintech affiliate of China’s Ant Group, have launched a pilot program leveraging artificial intelligence to help global businesses manage foreign exchange (FX) risk more effectively. The initiative merges Citi’s Fixed FX Rates solution—commonly used by e-commerce and corporate clients—with Ant International’s Falcon Time-Series Transformer, an advanced AI forecasting tool designed to reduce FX hedging costs.
The program initially targets aviation sector clients and has already been tested in live transactions. A major Asian airline reportedly achieved a 30% reduction in hedging costs for online ticket sales using the AI-driven solution, underscoring the potential of machine learning in financial risk management.
Kelvin Li, general manager of Platform Tech at Ant International, noted the efficiency gains: “The 30% hedging cost savings Ant International has achieved for the pilot airline customer shows the cost efficiency that can be achieved with AI-enabled FX hedging.” He added that the company plans to expand the service with Citi across more industries.
This development follows Citigroup’s broader adoption of AI tools, which began earlier this year, giving 140,000 employees in eight countries access to AI technologies. The bank joins other major financial institutions such as Morgan Stanley, which uses a chatbot for advisor support, and Bank of America, which operates Erica, an AI assistant for retail banking clients.
Ant International, founded by Jack Ma’s Ant Group, operates globally across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, focusing on digital payments, financial digitization, and advanced fintech services.
As global businesses navigate volatile currency markets, AI-powered solutions like this partnership aim to deliver smarter, more cost-effective hedging strategies—marking a step forward in fintech innovation and cross-border finance.
