A recent survey conducted by HSBC reveals that a majority of affluent and high-net-worth investors in Hong Kong are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their investment processes. The study, which included responses from over 1,200 investors in Hong Kong and nearly 10,000 across 10 markets, found that 75 percent of Hong Kong’s wealthy investors now use AI for investment and financial decision-making.

Among these investors, 66 percent reported using AI primarily for research and analysis, highlighting the technology’s role in enhancing the information-gathering phase. The survey also noted that Hong Kong investors tend to be slightly more willing to undertake calculated risks informed by AI recommendations, with 53 percent expressing openness to such risks compared to 49 percent of respondents globally.

Despite the significant uptake of AI tools, the findings underscore that human advisers remain central to the decision-making process. When it comes to the final investment choices, investors consistently turn to human expertise. The survey noted that 60 percent of Hong Kong respondents identified financial professionals or institutions as the source of their last major investment idea, while only 29 percent credited AI for this role. This reliance reflects a sustained trust in human judgment, with 80 percent valuing advisers for reassurance and contextual understanding, 72 percent for strategic expertise, 29 percent for emotional validation, and 27 percent for identifying potential inaccuracies or misleading information from AI-generated data.

Overall, the study points to a preference for a hybrid investment approach. On average, 53 percent of participants across the surveyed markets see combining AI’s data capabilities with human advisory as the optimal strategy going forward.

Winnie Ng, managing director and head of premier and wealth solutions at HSBC Hong Kong, emphasized that investors are not making a choice between AI and human advisers. Instead, she said, AI serves as a tool that accelerates research and enhances learning speed, while human advisers provide the critical judgment and personalized insights needed to finalize investment decisions. HSBC plans to expand its hybrid wealth advisory services using AI-based tools like Wealth Intelligence, which integrates real-time data to help relationship managers deliver more tailored client service.

The survey results reflect a growing trend among Hong Kong’s wealthy investors to leverage emerging technologies alongside traditional advisory relationships to navigate increasingly complex financial markets.