Indian investors lead globally in AI adoption for investing, but still rely on advisers for final decisions: HSBC-Ipsos survey

India’s affluent and high-net-worth investors are the world’s biggest users of artificial intelligence for finance and investing, according to a new HSBC-Ipsos survey, with 86% using AI for investment-related activities compared with a global average of 73%.

The survey, which covered nearly 10,000 affluent and high-net-worth investors across 10 markets, found that AI has become a mainstream tool for Indian investors. Overall, 98% of Indian respondents said they use AI, while 86% said they apply it specifically to finance and investment decisions.

Among Indian investors, 80% use AI for analysis and research, 70% use it for strategy support and 32% use it to sense-check their thinking and obtain a second opinion before making decisions.

The survey found that 64% of Indian investors are more willing to take calculated risks because of AI, higher than the global average of 49%. More than half (53%) said AI makes them feel more in control, while investors attributed an average 40% share of their investment returns over the past 12 months to AI’s influence.

“Indian investors are embracing AI faster than anywhere else in the world, using it to explore options and sense-check decisions. What’s striking is that despite high AI usage, AI’s influence in investment ideas and over decision-making trails behind professional advisers,” said Sandeep Batra, Head, International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India.

Advisers remain the most trusted source

Despite the rapid adoption of AI tools, investors continue to place greater trust in professional advisers when making investment decisions.The survey found that financial professionals remain the top source of investment ideas for Indian investors, cited by 67% of respondents. Advisers also remain the most influential factor in final investment decisions, accounting for 31% of decision-making influence, compared with 15% for AI tools.

As the report noted, investors continue to value advisers for “emotional reassurance” and “strategic expertise”. Emotional reassurance was cited by 89% of respondents, while 78% pointed to strategic expertise as a key reason for relying on advisers.

The findings also indicate a preference for combining AI tools with human advice rather than choosing one over the other. More than half of respondents (51%) said they preferred a hybrid approach. Of these, 33% said they would use AI to discover investment opportunities before consulting an adviser to validate their findings, while 18% preferred advisers who use AI tools as part of their advisory process.

India ahead of global peers

The survey was conducted among 9,993 affluent and high-net-worth investors across India, mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK and the US.

As the report noted, India recorded the highest use of AI for finance and investing among all markets surveyed. The global average stood at 73%, significantly below India’s 86%. Beyond investing, the survey found that 77% of Indian respondents reported an improvement in their quality of life because of AI. Around 40% said they use the technology to explore new career paths or business opportunities.

“The data shows AI isn’t replacing professional advice, it’s raising the quality of decision-making. The future of wealth management is a partnership where AI can accelerate analysis, while advisers bring judgement, personal context, and accountability at the moments that matter most,” Batra said.