The Evolution of AI Compliance Assistance from Reactive Support to Co-Agency

Authors

Daria Höhener

Abstract

Executives in regulated industries are facing growing pressure to integrate AI into compliance while preserving oversight. This article describes how a banking group introduced a retrieval-augmented, AI-powered compliance assistant. It outlines what the group’s journey reveals about the future of compliance work and the key lessons learned. It highlights the tensions shaping AI-supported compliance: authority illusion, blurred accountability, loss of contextual judgment and widening awareness gaps. The article provides a four-phase framework to help leaders navigate the shift from reactive AI assistants toward agentic, co-reasoning systems.

Recommended Citation

Höhener, Daria (2026) "The Evolution of AI Compliance Assistance from Reactive Support to Co-Agency," MIS Quarterly Executive: Vol. 25: Iss. 1, Article 4.
Available at: https://aisel.aisnet.org/misqe/vol25/iss1/4