Citi’s Tech Chief Bets on People, Not Pixels, to Power AI Shift

Citi tech chief Tim Ryan explains why he won't track employees' every AI move

Daniel Terna for BITim Ryan, Citi's tech chief, brought Business Insider into the bank's AI strategy.He's focused on scaling AI use and not relying too heavily on metrics for cost or token usage.Ryan has prioritized reducing contractors over full-time employees, as the bank trims headcount.Around 45 minutes into Citi's second-quarter earnings call, when talking about AI efficiencies, the bank's chief financial officer name-dropped another execut…

Citi’s Tech Chief Bets on People, Not Pixels, to Power AI Shift

Tim Ryan walked into one of the toughest jobs in banking with eyes wide open. As Citigroup’s head of technology and business enablement, he oversees a near $12 billion annual tech budget. His mandate? Help CEO Jane Fraser move the 219,000-employee giant past years of regulatory headaches and creaky systems. And do it with artificial intelligence at the center. Ryan, who joined from PwC in 2024, doesn’t chase flashy tools. He obsesses over adopti…