AI Gives Fast Answers, But are They Right?

There is no shortage of AI-powered platforms promising to solve complex challenges. In the market data sector, that often means giving compliance or vendor managers quick answers at the click of a button which sounds great, right? Instant access to information that used to take hours to dig up feels like a breakthrough. But here’s the thing, just getting an answer isn’t enough.

In highly regulated spaces like market data, it’s not just about finding information. It’s about knowing if that information is right, whether it’s been properly interpreted, and if it’s secure, compliant, and defensible against scrutiny. That’s where things get more complicated.

What’s the Problem with “Just an Answer”?

Speaking with Catherine Ottway, Commercial Management Team Lead at CJC, she shared a thoughtful perspective “AI driven platforms can certainly help us work faster, but speed without understanding is a dangerous game,” she explained. “If AI gives you an answer that doesn’t reflect your actual contracts or licensing terms, it can lead mislead you and when things go wrong, who’s accountable? In regulated industries, there’s no margin for error, ‘almost right’ just isn’t good enough.”

Highlighting how some things just aren’t black and white, Sara notes how exchange compliance, vendor agreements, and licensing rules are full of grey areas that don’t fit neatly into a single-line answer box. If financial firms rely too much on quick, self-service tools, they risk treating serious commercial work like it’s just another commodity. But the truth is, this work demands serious expertise and a solid governance approach.

Why Human Expertise Matters in Regulated Environments?

CJC’s global teams view emerging technology like AI as something that supports and augment experts, not replace them. A hybrid approach perspective we’ve advocated since 2023 in “AI Meets Market Data.” Yes, our teams use smart tools, but crucially, our teams know how to make sense of and interpret the information, decide whether it’s relevant for your specific situation, and make sure it’s applied properly across your processes, contracts, and compliance checks.

And here’s a big one, we stand behind our answers. You’re not just getting abstract information, but a team that takes responsibility for the expertise we provide and how it is applied.

Governance and security: What AI Tools Can’t Guarantee.

The real difference between using a tool and working with a trusted partner often comes down to governance and security. As demonstrated in a recent case study, CJC’s team of experts build frameworks that make decisions traceable and compliant, not just with internal policies, but also with regulators and external partners.

As a trusted managed service provider to multiple international financial firms, we also take security seriously. It’s not just about protecting our own systems. We protect yours too. That means solid controls, recognised certifications like our long-running ISO27001 certification, and constant monitoring to keep your data safe from cyber threats or unauthorised access. This is especially important with regulations like the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), which puts clear responsibility on firms (and their providers) to maintain operational resilience. A tool on its own can’t deliver that level of assurance, but a global 24/7 partner like CJC can.

Tools vs Partners: What Makes a Managed Service Provider Different?

Let’s break it down:

The Right Answer Needs More Than Just AI

AI and automation have their place, and they’re indisputably useful. But in a high-stakes, highly regulated environment like market data management, getting an answer isn’t the same as solving the problem. What sits behind the answer matters. The people, the process, and the governance that ensures the information you receive is correct, secure, and can be trusted.

At CJC, our teams don’t just hand over answers and walk away. We stand behind them and help our clients apply them responsibly, protect their data, and build systems that stand up to scrutiny. Because we understand that the difference between “an answer” and “the right answer” can be the difference between staying compliant or getting fined, building trust or losing it, and running smoothly or running into trouble.