On 9 June 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced that it will launch its Supercharged Sandbox to help firms experiment safely with artificial intelligence (AI), with the aim of supporting innovation.
Background
The Supercharged Sandbox is part of the FCA’s AI Lab, which it launched in October 2024. The new Sandbox builds on existing Digital Sandbox infrastructure and follows the FCA’s April 2025 proposal for AI Live Testing to support firms that are ready to use AI.
Supercharged Sandbox
The FCA explains that it is collaborating with Nvidia to enhance its existing Digital Sandbox by providing firms with access to better data, technical expertise and regulatory support to speed up innovation.
The Supercharged Sandbox is intended to help firms that are in the discovery and experiment phase with AI. Any financial services firm that is looking to innovate and experiment with AI can apply now for the Supercharged Sandbox, providing information on their:
- Project scope – what they are aiming to build or test, including whether it is a prototype, PoC or experimental feature.
- Problem statement – outlining the type of financial services challenge or opportunity the project addresses and why it is important.
- Technical requirements – including the types of computer resources, tooling or data needed.
- Intended impact – i.e. who stands to benefit from the work, taking account of consumer outcomes, operational improvements, market efficiency, or broader economic contribution.
- Degree of innovation – what makes the firm’s approach novel or different, e.g. a new methodology, application of AI, or unique use of data.
Next steps
Firms will be able to test early-stage proofs of concept within the Supercharged Sandbox from October 2025.