Today January 23, 2026, 03:00 PM
Today January 23, 2026, 03:00 PM
By Kurt Woock, NerdWallet
Most U.S. adults say AI has a role to play in a number of high-stakes tasks, including weather forecasting, developing new medicines and rooting out criminals, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.
But what about using the technology to improve your personal finances? According to a NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll in October 2025, the answer depends on who you ask.
About half (48%) of Americans say using AI will have a positive impact on their personal finances while the other 52% disagree, according to the NerdWallet survey. Look closer at the data, though, and youâll find pockets of greater optimism and pockets of greater pessimism.
The following groups are more likely to see an upside in using AI for personal finances:
So whoâs right? It depends.
In general, AI can be a useful starting point to ask general purpose questions, to brainstorm and to troubleshoot ideas. If youâre in a rut thinking about an open-ended question, like where to go on your next vacation, itâs an easy way to get a new perspective or sort through your options.
However, using AI can be risky. âFake it till you make itâ seems baked into its digital DNA, as it seems unable to say âIâm not sureâ when that would clearly be the best response. That swollen sense of confidence makes for funny memes about AI stumbles, but, for people seeking advice about their finances, it can lead to real damage. In other words, donât place your trust in AI the same way weâve let Google Maps replace paper maps. AI can quickly get you to the doorstep of a decision, but donât cross the threshold without the additional confirmation from expert, trustworthy sources.
Here are a few common scenarios and what helpful â and dubious â prompts might look like.
Imagine youâre choosing what funds to invest in through your employerâs 401(k). AI can be a useful partner if youâre asking general questions, but be wary of using it to make investment decisions. For informed advice that takes into account the totality of your financial situation, work with a financial advisor.
Avoid prompts that ask AI to suggest whatâs best for you, like:
Consider prompts that help you with general background:
Taxes can be notoriously complex. In the thick of filing season, you might be tempted to ask for advice about your return. Leave those questions for professionals. âMy AI told me it was OKâ is not going to work if youâre audited.
Avoid prompts that suggest taking a specific course of action, like:
Consider prompts that answer low-stakes questions, like:
If you use a budget app to track spending, you likely have a dashboard view that summarizes your spending by category as well as a downloadable list of all your transactions. Upload that information and use AI to help analyze it. But beware of questions that cede your role as the decisionmaker of your own finances.
Avoid prompts that force a yes-or-no answer, like:
Consider prompts that augment your own brainstorming process, like:
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