Survey finds 40% of UK children asked AI for money advice

In short: More UK children are using AI chatbots to ask money questions, with 40 per cent saying they have asked AI for financial advice.

What's going on

A survey by GoHenry, a children’s banking and financial education app, asked 2,000 UK young people aged 6 to 18 about AI use. It found that 40 per cent had asked AI for financial advice.

Parents were still the most trusted source for money guidance. AI came second, and children often used chatbots or smart devices owned by their parents, which suggests some adult oversight.

The most common money topic was “smart shopping”, meaning comparing prices and deciding how to spend money wisely. Other popular topics included earning money, saving for goals, learning money basics, budgeting, and spotting scams. Some children also asked about investing, plus adult topics like credit, debt, payslips, and taxes.

The Financial Times article also describes examples of how children use AI in real life. Some ask tools like ChatGPT or Claude for “side hustle” ideas, which is a way to earn extra money outside a regular job. Others use AI to sense-check prices when trading collectibles like football cards, similar to asking a friend to double-check the math before you agree to a deal.

What to watch

The article warns that AI financial advice is not regulated, meaning there may be no clear protection if someone follows bad tips and loses money. Schools and parents may face more pressure to teach children how to check advice, spot scams, and remember that chatbots can sound confident even when they are wrong.

Source: Financial Times