BMO Launches ‘Return on Intelligence’ Podcast Covering AI, Quantum, and the New Rules of Decision-Making
- Conversations with global technology and business leaders revealing how they are translating AI and quantum into impactful and responsible business decisions
- Clear, practical insights to help listeners stay at the forefront of technology redefining our society and the economy
- Hosted by Dr. Kristin Milchanowski, BMO’s Chief AI and Quantum Officer
Toronto, ON (Apr. 23, 2026) – BMO is pleased to announce the launch of Return on Intelligence, a new podcast series with Dr. Kristin Milchanowski, BMO’s Chief AI and Quantum Officer. Developed through the BMO Institute for Applied AI and Quantum, the series features interviews with global technology and business leaders on how organizations are approaching the application of quantum computing and artificial intelligence across their businesses.
The series explores how leaders are moving beyond experimentation to integrate AI into decision‑making, governance, operating models, and talent strategies–highlighting leadership choices that shape real‑world execution.
“Too much of the conversation around AI and quantum innovation still centers on tools rather than outcomes,” said Milchanowski. “This series is about how leaders think — how they govern, invest, and build trust – and how those decisions translate into real competitive advantage over time.”
“At BMO, we have consistently prioritized a disciplined approach to implementing AI and quantum technologies. By emphasizing robust governance, setting clear priorities, and seamlessly integrating these capabilities into our daily operations, we ensure that innovation is both practical and responsible,” said Steve Tennyson, Chief Technology & Operations Officer, BMO. “The Return on Intelligence podcast embodies this philosophy, offering valuable leadership insights that move the conversation beyond theory into actionable strategies for success.”
The debut episode with Mona Malone, Chief Administrative Officer, BMO, explores the leadership, talent, and governance choices needed to responsibly scale advanced technologies while maintaining institutional trust.
- Listen to the conversation: Return on Intelligence: “How Leaders Build Trust, Judgment, and Value with AI”
New episodes of Return on Intelligence will be available on BMO’s award winning Markets Plus platform as well as major podcast channels, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
BMO has earned top recognition for AI talent development in global banking, reflecting its enterprise-wide approach to building and scaling AI capabilities. With AI adoption exceeding 96% across employees and intelligent agents supporting frontline and operational teams, BMO has embedded AI broadly across its businesses. Focused on personalizing client experiences, augmenting teams, and automating operations, and guided by strong Responsible AI governance, the bank is advancing AI and quantum technologies at scale through the BMO Institute for Applied AI and Quantum.
BMO recently announced partnerships with Quantum Industry Canada and the Chicago Quantum Exchange.
About BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group is the seventh largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of October 31, 2025. Serving clients for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to approximately 13 million clients across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities. For more information, please visit bmo.com.
SOURCE: BMO Financial Group
Backgrounder:
BMO Announces Partnership with Quantum Industry Canada and Chicago Quantum Exchange
- Partnerships focus on technology commercialization, research collaboration, workforce development and knowledge‑sharing across North America
- Aligns with recently announced BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum, and the bank’s focus on responsible technology adoption
Toronto, ON (Apr. 13, 2026) – BMO has announced new partnerships with Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) and the Chicago Quantum Exchange (CQE), strengthening the bank’s engagement with leading quantum research, industry and policy organizations.
The partnerships build on BMO’s April 9 announcement of the BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum, a new Centre of Excellence focused on the responsible application and governance of AI and the advancement of quantum capabilities. Together, these initiatives reflect BMO’s commitment to innovating, developing and integrating technologies that will shape the future of financial services and the broader economy.
Through its collaborations with QIC and CQE, BMO is participating in early‑stage, structured ecosystem partnerships focused on knowledge‑sharing, workforce development and dialogue across academia, industry and policy communities. These engagements support BMO’s long‑standing approach to personalizing client experiences, augmenting team expertise and process automation, while contributing to the emergence of applications of quantum technologies that will impact the delivery of financial services.
“Quantum technologies present significant long‑term potential, along with important questions around security, governance and real‑world application,” said Dr. Kristin Milchanowski, Chief AI & Quantum Officer, BMO. “These partnerships enable us to engage constructively with leading organizations across Canada and the U.S. as the field continues to develop, while taking a responsible, informed approach grounded in collaboration, learning and readiness.”
BMO’s participation in Quantum Industry Canada connects the bank to Canada’s premier business-led quantum consortium, bringing together leading companies and strategic partners across the full quantum stack. Through QIC, BMO engages directly with Canada’s quantum ecosystem, contributing perspectives informed by its expert technology bankers, enterprise‑scale financial services experience and long‑term readiness considerations.
“Canada has played an outsized role in building the quantum era. The focus now is on translating that leadership into real capability, markets, and advantage,” said Quantum Industry Canada’s CEO Lisa Lambert. “BMO’s participation reflects the shift from exploration to execution, and the role leading financial institutions play in scaling Canada’s quantum economy.”
Through its partnership with the Chicago Quantum Exchange, BMO will engage with a Midwest-based intellectual hub that advances the science and engineering of quantum information, prepares the quantum workforce, and drives the quantum economy in collaboration with leading universities, national labs, and industry partners. With BMO’s U.S. headquarters located in Chicago, the relationship provides a local foundation for ongoing dialogue, convenings and workforce‑focused engagement, including exposure to emerging research and student talent relevant to financial services.
“The CQE is building and scaling a full‑spectrum quantum ecosystem by working closely with partners in key industries, like finance, to drive progress across the discovery‑to‑deployment pipeline,” said David Awschalom, the University of Chicago’s Liew Family Professor of Quantum Engineering and Physics and the founding director of the CQE. “Quantum technologies offer significant potential for financial institutions, from quantum networks that may enhance the protection of personal information to quantum computing approaches that could help identify fraud more effectively over time. Engaging in early, cross‑sector dialogue with partners like BMO that share our commitment to responsible and efficient quantum sector growth is an important part of building a strong quantum economy.”
Together, these partnerships reflect BMO’s long‑term approach to emerging technologies as a financial advisor and capital provider, and as an innovator – engaging early with leading research and industry organizations, investing in knowledge and talent, and building the governance and institutional understanding required to evaluate potential applications responsibly as the quantum ecosystem matures.
Recently, BMO became the first Canadian bank to join the IBM Quantum Network, extending its technology leadership in North America. BMO has also been recognized by Evident AI as one of the world’s top 10 banks for AI innovation, received the Commercial Banking Impact Award for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics from Datos Insights, and was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.
About BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group is the seventh largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of October 31, 2025. Serving clients for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to approximately 13 million clients across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities. For more information, please visit bmo.com.
SOURCE: BMO Financial Group
Backgrounder:
BMO Establishes Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum
- The BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum builds on BMO’s decades-long use of AI while advancing its Quantum ambitions to enhance client experiences, increase productivity and efficiency.
- Dr. Kristin Milchanowski appointed to expanded role of Chief AI & Quantum Officer and Founding Director of the Institute.
Toronto, ON (Apr. 9, 2026) – BMO is pleased to announce the establishment of the BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum, a new enterprise‑wide Centre of Excellence focused on the responsible innovation, application and governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the development of Quantum capabilities.
BMO’s Institute brings together expertise from across science, policy, ethics and commercialization to build on BMO’s decades-long use of AI while advancing its Quantum ambitions to enhance client experiences, increase productivity and efficiency, and support long‑term growth, while maintaining strong governance and trust.
“BMO is committed to building AI and Quantum capabilities that are innovative, trusted and centred on our clients,” said Steve Tennyson, Chief Technology & Operations Officer, BMO. “AI is accelerating how we build, modernize, and innovate across the bank and the Institute will strengthen our ability to turn leading edge technologies into meaningful value for BMO clients, while maintaining the discipline required to manage risk, operate at scale and support responsible adoption across global banking.”
Effective April 6, Dr. Kristin Milchanowski has been appointed BMO’s Chief AI & Quantum Officer and will be the Founding Director of the BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum. In this expanded role, she will continue to advance BMO’s AI and Quantum capabilities, serve as a thought leader, and ensure strong, responsible governance across the enterprise.
“BMO has been applying AI across the bank for decades to personalize client experiences, augment our teams and automate our business. These capabilities continue to evolve rapidly, alongside the emergence of Quantum technologies, creating both extraordinary opportunity and significant responsibility,” said Dr. Kristin Milchanowski, Chief AI & Quantum Officer, BMO. “The BMO Institute for Applied Artificial Intelligence & Quantum will help further embed a mature, enterprise-wide AI agenda, while advancing our Quantum strategy across the Bank and beyond, while keeping us accountable and agile in this era of exponential change.”
With establishing the Institute, BMO is building on its significant investments in AI and other advanced technologies. Most recently, BMO became the first Canadian bank to join the IBM Quantum Network, extending its technology leadership in North America. BMO has also been recognized by Evident AI as one of the world’s top 10 banks for AI innovation, received the Commercial Banking Impact Award for Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Analytics from Datos Insights, and was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies.
About BMO Financial Group
BMO Financial Group is the seventh largest bank in North America by assets, with total assets of $1.5 trillion as of October 31, 2025. Serving clients for 200 years and counting, BMO is a diverse team of highly engaged employees providing a broad range of personal and commercial banking, wealth management, global markets and investment banking products and services to approximately 13 million clients across Canada, the United States, and in select markets globally. Driven by a single purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, BMO is committed to driving positive change in the world, and making progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and stronger communities. For more information, please visit bmo.com.
SOURCE: BMO Financial Group
Tags: Artificial Intelligence (AI), BMO Financial Group, IBM, launch, partnership, quantum computing
