Can AI Really Give You Financial Advice?

The short answer? Yes, it depends on the AI.

Why this matters to you

More people are turning to AI for money help—and it makes sense. Traditional financial advice can feel expensive or out of reach, while AI is instant, free, and sounds confident.

But here's the thing: confidence isn't the same as accuracy.

And when it comes to your money, the difference matters.

The shift to digital advice

Nearly two-thirds of under-35s in the UK now use tools like ChatGPT for financial guidance. That's a massive shift away from banks and advisers, towards tools that feel easier and faster.

We love that people want to take control of their finances. But not all AI is created equal—and most can't understand what makes your situation unique.

Why generic AI falls short

Large Language Models like ChatGPT are brilliant at generating information. They pull from vast amounts of online text and sound credible doing it.

But they don't actually know what's true. Or what applies to you.

In benchmark tests, the most advanced models score around 75–76% accuracy. That's a 15–25% margin of error—and when it's your money, those odds aren't good enough.

More importantly, generic AI can't ask the questions that matter most. Because it doesn't know you.

Why context changes everything

Money advice isn't just knowledge. It's context.

Say you ask a generic AI: "How should I invest my money?"

You might get a sensible-sounding answer about stocks, funds, or diversification.

But it won't know:

• Have you used your ISA allowance this year?

• Do you have an emergency fund set up?

• Are you spending less than you earn each month?

• How do you feel about risk—do you panic when markets dip?

• Are you actually ready to invest yet?

Without asking these questions, even smart-sounding answers can lead you nowhere useful.

Real advice needs to replicate every part of professional guidance, not just the technical bits. That means:

• Having a proper conversation with smart follow-up questions

• Challenging your assumptions where needed

• Explaining concepts clearly, in plain English

• Helping you understand the "why" behind every step

That's what turns information into actual advice. And it's what general AI simply can't do.

How expert-trained AI is different

AI can play a valuable role in financial guidance—if it's built with real expertise and proper safeguards.

That's where Aida by Money Means comes in.

Aida isn't a generic chatbot recycling internet advice. She's been trained using UK financial planning standards and tested against the same benchmarks human advisers must pass.

When Aida sat the CII Diploma in Regulated Financial Planning—the professional standard for UK financial advisers—she passed all six modules with distinction, averaging 90%.

ChatGPT, by comparison, failed two modules and scored below the threshold required to advise people safely.

How Aida brings real context to your finances

Unlike generic AI, Aida is built to understand your actual situation—safely, securely, and within FCA regulations.

She learns from your real data (with your consent).

Through Open Banking, Aida can see your spending, saving, and income patterns—with read-only access, so you stay in full control.

She asks the right questions.

Aida doesn't skip the fundamentals. She'll check your emergency fund, debts, and savings habits before suggesting investment options.

She explains the "why."

You'll always understand why something matters, not just what to do.

She guides you, not just informs you.

Real advice is a journey. Aida walks it with you.

This combination—conversation, understanding, and expert reasoning—is what makes her different. It's advice that adapts to you, not information copied from somewhere else.

What AI can (and can't) safely do

The bottom line

AI is a powerful learning tool. But your finances need human context and professional standards.

Generic tools like ChatGPT can give you broad overviews, but they don't know you—and they can't take responsibility for what happens next.

Aida is built differently.

She combines financial planning expertise, regulation, and personal understanding—so the guidance you get isn't just smart, it's safe and relevant to you.

Final thought

Use AI to learn, not to decide—unless it's designed for your context, built to professional standards, and backed by transparency and trust.

Because true financial advice isn't just about knowing the answer.

It's about knowing you.