BBVA’s new genAI programme targets executive efficiency gain

Madrid, Spain - June 19, 2021: City BBVA. Headquarters of BBVA bank in Las Tablas district. La Vela Building designed by Herzog and de Meuron. Finance, business and banking concepts
Editorial credit: JJFarq / Shutterstock.com

BBVA has launched a programme with the University of Navarra to boost the productivity of over 150 executives through generative artificial intelligence (genAI).

The course centres on using genAI to enhance productivity by streamlining strategic decision-making and daily operations for BBVA’s executives. 

Developed collaboratively by the University of Navarra’s Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Institute (DATAI) and BBVA’s own teams, the programme looks to provide targeted training for optimal impact.

Elena Alfaro, Head of GenAI Adoption at BBVA, remarked: “With this new training programme, we are not just seeking to make our executives more productive and creative, we are also aiming to make them more adept at embracing emerging technologies, while encouraging them to lead change among their respective teams. 

“Understanding the uses of genAI will help the company get the most out of this technology both now and in the future.”

As part of Campus BBVA, the group’s training initiative, this programme highlights genAI’s potential, tracing its advancements and applications across different economic sectors. Participants also explore specific case studies that showcase ChatGPT’s role as a tool, aiming to enhance efficiency in information management within the business landscape.

Iván Cordón, Head of Innovation at DATAI, commented: “The course caters to emerging needs following the recent integration of AI within enterprises. Through a complete introduction to genAI, participants explore its real impact on business management. With the case studies we look at, learners get to see how to apply this technology, from automating routine tasks to optimising complex processes.”

BBVA has been a leader in adopting AI technology. In August, the Spanish bank fulfilled its commitment to expand its AI workforce by more than doubling its team size. It brought on 230 new specialists to join its existing 200 AI professionals, placing these new hires in its “AI Factories” in Mexico and Turkey, as well as its research lab in Spain.

This focus on AI has deep roots, with BBVA establishing its Spanish research lab in 2019. Moreover, its collaboration with the University of Navarra dates back to a 2020 agreement designed to enhance employee training and drive research in data science.