The CFTC appoints Dr. Ted Kaouk as its inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer, expanding his role to lead the development and implementation of the agency’s data and AI strategy.
Officials from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have declared Dr. Ted Kaouk as their inaugural Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer.
In his capacity as interim Chief Data Officer and Director of the Division of Data at the CFTC, Dr. Kaouk will assume additional responsibilities including supervision of the CFTC’s data and artificial intelligence strategy’s development and implementation.
The purpose of this development is to strengthen enforcement, surveillance, and supervision, in addition to other areas of the derivatives market that fall under the jurisdiction of the CFTC.
Chairman Rostin Behnam emphasized the significance of artificial intelligence and sophisticated data analytics in the evolution of the CFTC’s operational systems. As stated by Chairman Behnam, Dr. Kaouk’s extensive technical expertise and track record of effective leadership are indispensable in propelling the CFTC’s current endeavors.
It is expected that the integration of AI into the agency’s operations will enhance skill sets, foster a culture that values data utilization, and enable the application of AI for innovation in financial market regulations.
Before joining the CFTC, Dr. Kaouk held positions at various government agencies. As the Chief Data Officer at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), he was tasked with developing the first human capital data strategy applicable to the entire federal government.
His accomplishments include the development of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s first enterprise data analytics and AI platform. Furthermore, his tenure as the inaugural Chair of the Federal Chief Data Officers Council, which he oversaw from its inception in 2020 until January 2024, demonstrated Dr. Kaouk’s exemplary leadership.
Dr. Kaouk commenced his professional career in the United States Navy as a surface warfare officer before continuing his education at prestigious academic institutions. The individual in question obtained his undergraduate and master’s degrees from the esteemed U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Virginia, and the University of Maryland, College Park, respectively, for his doctorate.
Aligned with the proclamation of Dr. Kaouk’s forthcoming position, the Technology Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Commission, sponsored by Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero, has issued the agenda for the forthcoming “AI Day.”
At this event, which will be conducted at the CFTC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., the responsible implementation of AI in regulated financial services will be deliberated.
The day’s seminars will additionally incorporate perspectives from AI specialists representing various industries, including private enterprises and government regulators.
A number of significant subjects will be covered in the seminars, including Sunayna Tuteja, the Chief Innovation Officer of the Federal Reserve Board, who will speak on the role of artificial intelligence in fostering responsible innovation within the Federal Reserve.
Further presentations will address market automation, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework, and the report on AI in financial sector cyber security published by the U.S. Treasury Department. Reflecting on the application and regulation of AI equipment in the financial markets is the objective of these discussions.
Simultaneously, public engagement is encouraged for the AI Day event, which can be accessed via a live webcast accessible on the CFTC’s official website or in person. This undertaking is a component of the TAC’s ongoing effort to establish a forum for well-informed discussions regarding the complexities of AI technologies that exist at the intersection of law, technology, and policy.
