The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission is embracing artificial intelligence and automation to tackle its expanding oversight responsibilities, according to Chairman Mike Selig's congressional testimony. Despite a significant decline in the agency's workforce under the Trump administration, with about a quarter of staff leaving since 2025, the CFTC is leveraging AI to enhance its surveillance and investigative capabilities.
Selig emphasized that 'tools such as AI are going to be very helpful in surveilling and bringing investigations,' and noted the agency's use of Microsoft's Copilot AI tool to boost productivity. The CFTC is facing growing demands to regulate the rapidly evolving cryptocurrency and prediction markets, with Chairman Selig acknowledging 'numerous investigations ongoing' in prediction markets, although he did not provide further details. The agency's role in regulating these markets has been a subject of discussion, with some lawmakers expressing concerns about the CFTC's capacity to effectively oversee these areas with its current staffing levels. Selig asserted that the agency is 'running more efficiently and effectively' despite the staff reductions, but lawmakers have urged the White House to fill vacant commissioner positions to ensure the CFTC has the necessary resources to fulfill its regulatory duties.