Years ago, while living in Paris, France, I had the great fortune to meet a lovely elderly woman who had lived a full and amazing life. Another friend and I would visit her at her small apartment in the 11th arrondissement each week. Our routine consisted of reading together and engaging in lively conversation while having an apéro.
One day she had another guest at the apartment. She introduced us to her animated friend who regaled us with stories of her life in the Paris art scene. She had made art, known famous artists and spent time modeling for many. She also happened to be a bit of a mystic and a palm reader. Of course she wanted to do a reading for us. As she read my palm, she told me I had the “spirit of a galloping horse,” which is the only thing I remember from her vast predictions for my future. I have often reflected on that phrase and have wondered how having the “spirit of a galloping horse” would affect my future. What exactly did that mean? Even today, every time I encounter a challenging project or I am faced with a difficult decision, I say to myself “you have the spirit of a galloping horse.”
Predicting the future is an uncertain art form. No one really can tell you what the future holds. We have not mastered palm reading or gazing into a crystal ball, but we can prepare for what the future might bring with the tools and knowledge we have before us. The cover article of this memorable edition, “Predicting the Future: LLMs in AML Regulation,” walks us through the potential that artificial intelligence (AI), specifically large language models (LLMs), could have in reshaping the future of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. Although there are risks and challenges ahead with the adoption of LLMs, collaboration between human intelligence and AI could enhance innovation and productivity in the AML sector. Read more about this.
Much like palm reading at first glance seems like random lines, so too emojis can seem nonsensical if you do not know at what you are looking. As the team was working on this edition, we learned a portion of the language of emojis. The second cover article, “Smileys to Syringes: Deciphering Emojis and Slang in Illicit Drug Sales,” increases both the awareness and understanding of slang, emojis and stickers that can be used to identify illicit activity involving drug sales.
I hope you―the reader―will take a deep dive into the other topics in this edition covering Instant Payments and Sanctions Screening, AI’s Impact on AFC Careers, and more.
This noteworthy issue is the last edition of ACAMS Today to appear in print. We are extremely proud of the legacy we created over the last 23 years. We are equally enthused by the digital offerings we have produced for the last 15 years. To better serve our 115,000-plus member community and to take advantage of the ever-evolving digital landscape, we are now transitioning to an exclusively digital format. We will continue to offer ACAMS Today as an online publication as well as additional web content including our monthly columns and weekly articles. We are also excited to introduce more interactivity to ACAMSToday.org and elevate the user experience. We will keep you up to date on all new digital enhancements.
As we continue our pursuit of stopping financial crime, I hope we remember that the future can be unpredictable. But if we strive to equip ourselves with the latest tools and perhaps the “spirit of a galloping horse,” we can boost our potential and enhance our AML processes.
Karla Monterrosa-Yancey, CAMS
Editor-in-Chief
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