Young adults in the UK are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence tools to help manage their personal finances, driven in part by limited financial literacy. A recent survey of 1,000 adults by digital bank Bunq found that nearly half of Britons (47 percent) have used AI for financial guidance, with usage particularly high among 25-to-34-year-olds, two-thirds of whom reported relying on AI to budget and save.

The research highlights a generational divide, both in the adoption of AI for money management and in the financial benefits users perceive. Younger adults estimate they save nearly three times as much annually—around £395—compared to approximately £135 among those aged 55 to 70.

Dorothy Amo, 25, a waitress and broadcaster based in east London, described her experience using AI to navigate a complex financial landscape. With family origins in Ghana and Italy and limited financial education growing up, Amo found AI useful during her years as a student balancing part-time work with rent, travel, and food expenses. She said early interactions with AI helped her allocate her income more effectively, identify cost-saving opportunities, and find student-friendly banking options, such as accounts with zero-percent overdrafts. Amo continues to use AI tools as she progresses in her career and works on paying off debt.

Similarly, 21-year-old Eddie Haworth, originally from Southampton and now living in Manchester, credits AI with assisting him in finding affordable housing when he relocated for university. He and a housemate used AI to identify reasonably priced apartments within a specific area and to compare utility providers. As Haworth plans to pursue a master’s degree while working, he incorporates AI into his budgeting to forecast income needs, savings goals, and payment of tuition fees. However, he remains cautious about relying solely on AI and supplements the advice with input from family members more experienced in finance.

Both examples underscore AI’s appeal as an accessible financial planning tool amid a broader lack of in-depth financial education, particularly among younger people. Amo noted that her family rarely discussed topics like savings accounts or investment, with financial decisions focused mostly on immediate necessities.

Experts point to this knowledge gap as a key driver behind AI’s growing role in personal finance management. While AI tools offer convenience and personalized guidance, some users emphasize the importance of verifying recommendations through trusted sources due to the technology’s limitations.

As AI adoption spreads, it may help bridge financial literacy gaps, but users and financial professionals alike acknowledge that it should complement—rather than replace—human judgment in money management.