Peru’s regulation of artificial intelligence crossed a threshold in 2025 with the approval of implementing regulations for Law 31814. The new rules declare that credit evaluation supported by AI will be classified as high risk. This is not a technical distinction. It is a historical decision that places credit—the engine of Peru’s economic growth—at the center of a global debate about how we coexist with technological innovation.
The movement is international and parallel. The European Union approved the AI Act, which distinguishes by risk level and imposes strengthened obligations when essential services are affected. The White House issued executive orders on transparency, equity, and consumer rights. The OECD outlined responsible governance recommendations years ago. In that landscape, Peru stands out for speed and for choosing a strategic sector: credit not as a financial product alone, but as an enabler of inclusion and economic mobility.
It is worth remembering that credit risk is already one of the most regulated fields in banking. Internal models, scoring methodologies, and regulatory provisioning have been under constant supervision for decades. The disruption that AI brings is not the absence of controls. It is the scale, opacity, and adaptability of the technology itself. What was previously internal oversight must now become rigorous, explicit, and transparent. Consumers gain the right to understand and challenge algorithmic decisions.
This is the insight Peru’s regulation articulates. It does not open unknown territory. It transforms internal protocols into public, enforceable standards—a shared language between state, industry, and citizens. What was already being done inside risk teams becomes legible and auditable. Systemic trust strengthens. Expectations align around the responsible use of AI in credit.
The regulatory challenge is to consolidate without duplicating, orienting what already exists under clear and reliable standards. Excessive bureaucracy would be counterproductive. But thoughtful implementation will allow banks to translate what they already do into visible, verifiable mechanisms. This matters fundamentally: citizen confidence in digital credit and applied AI depends on effective transparency.
What appears at first to be regulatory tightening becomes a strategic asset. The opportunity lies in demonstrating that credit enhanced by AI is a lever for expanding access, accelerating decisions, and personalizing products—all within frameworks that ensure equity and responsibility. Peru’s banking sector has enormous potential to innovate here. Its success depends on how the industry and state translate regulation into daily practice.
The regulation is already in force. What matters now is whether Peru converts it into broader inclusion, deepened trust, and sustained growth. The world is moving toward this kind of governance. Peru chose to move first.