AI Is Becoming Part of Financial Research

Although AI is just starting to influence the way Americans gather their information on finance, the latest Gallup poll suggests that people still feel skeptical about using AI as the main source of important financial decisions.

Conducted in partnership with Edward Jones, a financial services company, the poll revealed that about one out of five U.S. adults who asked for financial advice within a year used AI. At the same time, just three out of 10 Americans reported that they have some confidence in the ability of AI to give financial advice. Only 3% said that they are very confident about this technology.

It proves that while people start using AI, they do not yet completely trust it. Although the technology becomes more accessible, Americans tend to trust people rather than machines when making financial decisions.

Internet Research Remains the Top Choice

Americans looking for financial advice tend to do their own research rather than consult a professional or an AI tool.

According to the results of the survey, 73% of adults who tried to get financial advice last year conducted their research online. Meanwhile, only one-third of adults consulted a professional financial advisor despite the fact that around eight out of 10 Americans trust financial advisers to some degree.

There were other sources of advice as well. 35% asked for help from a parent, sibling or other relatives, whereas 26% consulted news outlets and media, including social media. Another two in 10 individuals got their advice from friends or from influencers and speakers. There were also other, less popular sources, including employers, retirement plan providers, robo-advisers and teachers.

Younger Americans Are More Open to AI

It seems that age plays a big role in how individuals respond to AI financial advice.

Approximately one-fourth of young adults from Generation Z and millennials looking for financial advice last year used artificial intelligence. On the other hand, about 16% of Generation X adults and only 7% of baby boomers have used AI to find financial advice.

The trend was almost flipped when it comes to financial advisers. Only 14% of Generation Z adults and 21% of millennials seeking help had consulted with a financial adviser. This number rose up to 34% of Generation X adults and around 55% of baby boomers.

Price could be a potential reason behind this trend. Research online, talking to friends and relatives, and using AI tools is available for free or low-cost in most cases. Financial advice requires a bigger price tag and therefore is less accessible to younger people.

Experts Recommend Using AI as a Learning Tool

According to financial analysts, AI would be of assistance to consumers in the context of learning financial fundamentals.

For example, Taha Choukhmane, an associate professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management, suggests consulting AI at the initial stage of learning and then comparing the provided information with trustworthy sources. AI may assist with topics like the principles of stock markets or the difference between mutual funds and index funds.

Additionally, he advises requesting AI systems to give references that users can verify on their own. As AI depends on the wording of prompts from users, the answers can differ depending on the wording of questions.

AI Lacks the Responsibility of a Human Adviser

Moreover, this survey brings up issues related to the restrictions of AI in terms of financial decision-making.

Certified financial planners owe certain duties to their clients and are supposed to give recommendations according to the peculiarities of the client's situation. AI technology does not bear this duty.

Bobbi Rebell, a certified financial planner and CEO of Financial Wellness Strategies, stressed that AI would never be able to understand one's finances because it cannot ask all the necessary questions, which a human would ask. In the end, it is the consumers themselves who are accountable for their decisions made after receiving AI information.

Survey Shows a Growing but Cautious Relationship

The Gallup poll involved 5,075 adults across America aged 21 years old and above and took place between March 20 and April 6, 2026. The sample was taken from the panel of people assembled by Gallup in order to ensure representativeness of the United States population. Overall margin of error is plus/minus 1.8 percentage points.

The data indicates that AI is turning into one more way to get financial data, mostly among young people. Nevertheless, although its usage is quite common, trust is not there yet.

From a consumer perspective, the results indicate the way how AI can be useful. Instead of replacing people's financial wisdom and judgment, AI should be used as a research and explanation tool.