THE STRUCTURED PATh
AI Control is the outcome. The path to it is structured and measurable
The Assessment establishes where the institution stands today. The Stack and OLTAIX™ close the gaps. Together they produce AI Control. Each step has defined deliverables, durations, and outputs.
HOW WE WORK WITH FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
THREE STAGES. ONE INSTITUTIONAL RELATIONSHIP.
Engagements progress through structured stages as the institutional relationship deepens. Each stage produces defined deliverables, has its own commercial structure, and may stand alone — but most relationships move through the stages sequentially as AI control matures from diagnostic to strategy to architecture.
Some institutions complete only Stage 1. The Assessment and the strategic program built around it are sufficient for institutions whose AI control posture is strong and whose strategic direction is clear.
Some institutions progress to Stage 2. Scenario Planning is most relevant for institutions whose strategic direction involves long-horizon decisions, large capital commitments, or operating environments with significant regulatory or geopolitical uncertainty.
Some institutions reach Stage 3. Architecture & Program Advisory engagements are reserved for institutions in the Compose or Build bands committing to fully institution-owned AI control infrastructure.
STAGE 1 — ASSESSMENT & STRATEGY
Where most institutional relationships begin in earnest.
Following the AI Control Assessment, Institutional AI builds a full AI Control program around the institution's specific results.
What the engagement includes:
- Gap analysis across all 25 matrix cells — identifying exactly which intersections are exposed and where investment will produce the greatest impact
- Regulatory framework mapping — against the institution's specific obligations: ERISA, DORA, SEC, Solvency II, NAIC, or other applicable frameworks
- Peer benchmarking — against institutions of similar size, sector, and regulatory profile
- Model provider contract review — assessing existing AI provider agreements for governance gaps and remediation priorities
- 12-month action plan — with specific priorities, timelines, sequencing, and investment guidance
Engagement format: Fixed-fee engagement with defined scope and deliverables.
Typical duration: 8–12 weeks from engagement start to final deliverable.
Best for: Institutions ready to translate assessment results into a structured strategic program with clear board-level visibility.
STAGE 2 — SCENARIO PLANNING
For institutions whose strategic direction needs stress-testing against multiple possible futures.
Once an institution knows where it needs to go, the question becomes whether the path holds under different conditions. Institutional AI applies the Oxford Scenario Planning Approach to institutional AI strategy — building a small set of plausible futures, including the ones that break current assumptions, and validating that the strategic direction is resilient under each.
What the engagement includes:
- Plausible-futures development — typically 3–4 scenarios calibrated to the institution's specific operational, regulatory, and competitive context
- Strategic stress-testing — current AI strategy validated against each scenario
- Resilience identification — strategic elements that hold across all scenarios versus elements vulnerable to specific futures
- Refined strategic direction — same destination, more intelligent and resilient path
Engagement format: Fixed-fee engagement, typically delivered through 3–4 facilitated sessions with institutional leadership.
Typical duration: 6–10 weeks from engagement start to final scenarios delivery.
Best for: Institutions whose AI strategy involves long-horizon decisions (5+ years), large capital commitments, or operating environments with significant regulatory or geopolitical uncertainty.
STAGE 3 — ARCHITECTURE & PROGRAM ADVISORY
For institutions in the Compose or Build bands committing to sovereign infrastructure.
For institutions whose Assessment results — and strategic decision — point toward building owned AI control architecture, Institutional AI provides advisory throughout design, deployment, and ongoing programme oversight.
What the engagement includes:
- Architecture design — Stack and OLTAIX™ specification calibrated to the institution's regulatory, operational, and capital context
- Vendor selection advisory — independent guidance on hardware, cloud, model, and operational technology selections
- OLTAIX™ specification — control plane configuration mapped to the institution's policy, governance, and reporting requirements
- Governance framework construction — board reporting structure, audit protocols, escalation pathways
- Ongoing programme oversight — quarterly reviews throughout the multi-year build to ensure standards hold as deployment grows
Engagement format: Multi-year retainer engagement with defined scope and milestone-based delivery.
Typical duration: 18–36 months for initial deployment, with ongoing oversight thereafter.
Best for: Tier-1 institutions, sovereign wealth funds, large pension funds, and other institutions committing to fully institution-owned AI infrastructure with multi-year capital programs.
You build it. You own it. Institutional AI ensures it is built to the standard the institution's regulatory and fiduciary obligations require — and that it stays there as AI deployment grows.
WHAT TO EXPECT
How Institutional AI engagements actually work
CONFIDENTIALITY. Every discussion is covered under non-disclosure agreement from first contact. Assessment results are never shared externally. Benchmark data is anonymized before incorporation into sector benchmarks and is never attributed to individual institutions.
SELECTIVITY. Institutional AI accepts a limited number of new client engagements per quarter. The firm prioritizes institutions where AI control is a current strategic priority and leadership is prepared to act on assessment findings.
TEAM. Selected engagements may be led directly by some of our senior leadership with experience across institutional strategy. scenario planning, technology transformation, and governance advisory. Institutional context and industry insight are drawn from advisors with senior leadership backgrounds across global custody, asset servicing, institutional asset management, and wealth distribution. Architecture and program advisory engagements may include specialist subcontractors selected for the institution's specific technical, regulatory, and operational profile.
CADENCE. Initial Assessment delivery within 2–3 weeks of submission. Stage 1 Strategy engagements progress through bi-weekly working sessions with institutional leadership. Stage 3 Architecture engagements include quarterly governance reviews with the institution's board or audit committee.
DELIVERABLES. Every engagement produces structured, board-quality outputs designed to support fiduciary oversight and regulatory examination — not just internal recommendations.