A new poll by Gallup and Edward Jones finds that about 20% of Americans have recently used artificial intelligence (AI) for financial advice. Despite this growing usage, fewer than one in three respondents said they have some or a great deal of confidence in the financial guidance provided by AI.
Much higher confidence in human advisers
By contrast, 79% of respondents reported having some or a great deal of confidence in financial advisers. That represents a substantial gap between trust in human professionals and trust in AI‑based advice.
Generational divide
The survey revealed a clear generational split: roughly one-quarter of respondents under age 46 said they had used AI for financial guidance, compared with just 7% of baby boomers. This suggests younger adults are more willing to turn to AI tools for financial decision support than older generations.
Most popular sources of guidance
Across generations, the most commonly used source of financial guidance was respondents’ own internet research. More than half of boomers said they had consulted a professional financial adviser in the past year, while far fewer members of Generation Z (14%) and millennials (21%) reported doing so.
Why it matters
The findings indicate that while AI is increasingly being used in the financial realm, many Americans remain hesitant to trust automated advice fully. The generational differences also imply that adoption and reliance on AI will likely evolve unevenly across age groups.
(Reported by Elana Schor)
