A new Gallup survey of 5,075 U.S. adults reveals a striking divide in how Americans relate to AI in personal finance: one in five who sought financial guidance in the past year turned to AI, yet 70% of all adults lack meaningful confidence in AI for managing money. For anyone weighing when to hire a financial advisor versus leaning on an AI tool, the poll puts the trade-offs in sharp relief.
The Numbers Behind the Trust Gap
The Gallup poll, conducted March 20–April 6, 2026 in partnership with Edward Jones, found that 20% of Americans who sought financial advice in the past year used AI — compared with 80% who have at least some confidence in a professional financial adviser. Only 3% of adults trust AI “a great deal” for money management. The contrast is stark: internet research was the most popular guidance source (73% used it), yet professional advisers still command the highest confidence of any source, according to Fortune’s analysis of the Gallup data.
Who Is Actually Using AI for Money Advice?
Adoption breaks sharply along generational lines. Among Gen Z and Millennials who sought financial advice, 25% used AI — compared with 16% of Gen X and just 7% of Baby Boomers. The inverse pattern holds for human advisers: 55% of Boomers consulted a professional, versus only 14% of Gen Z. Younger adults are clearly more willing to try AI tools for budgeting, investing, and planning, even as they report lower trust levels overall.
What the Gap Means for AI in Personal Finance
High usage alongside low trust suggests people are treating AI as a first-pass research tool rather than a primary decision-maker — which tracks with how most AI financial platforms position themselves today. The data also points to a persistent opening for human advisers: in areas where trust, complexity, and consequential choices matter most, the majority of Americans still prefer a person. For AI platforms aiming to move from “interesting experiment” to “trusted adviser,” closing that confidence gap — through transparency, track record, and regulation — remains the central challenge for the rest of 2026.