86% of high-net-worth Indians now use AI for investing, highest in the world: HSBC research

Indian investors are adopting AI for money matters faster than anyone else in the world. Yet when the moment comes to actually commit, they still want a human in the room.That's the takeaway from new HSBC research, conducted by Ipsos, surveying nearly 10,000 affluent and high-net-worth individuals across 10 markets.

India's slice—1,115 respondents—stood out.

A striking 86% said they use AI specifically for finance and investing, the highest of any market surveyed and well above the 73% global average.

Why Indian investors trust AI for research but not the final call

The appeal is mostly about legwork. Indians lean on AI for analysis and research (80%), strategy support (70%), and to sense-check their own thinking (32%). The payoff shows up in confidence: 36% feel steadier walking into a conversation with their financial adviser.But adoption isn't the same as authority. Financial professionals remain the top source of investment ideas (67%) and the single biggest influence on final decisions (31%)—more than double AI's 15%. Investors value advisers for things a model can't fake, namely emotional reassurance (89%) and strategic expertise (78%).

The hybrid model shaping the future of wealth management

Most see the two working side by side. Over half (51%) prefer a hybrid setup: use AI to explore, then bring in a human to validate before acting.

The confidence boost has a behavioural edge too. Indian investors are the boldest globally, with 64% saying AI makes them more willing to take calculated risks, against a 49% global average."AI isn't replacing professional advice—it's raising the quality of decision-making," said Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC India. He framed the future as a partnership where AI speeds up analysis and advisers bring judgement and accountability when it counts.