Affluent and high-net-worth investors in Malaysia are among the world’s highest adopters of artificial intelligence (AI) for finance and investment, but more than half still value human expertise when making financial decisions.
A new survey of around 10,000 affluent and high-net-worth individuals across 10 markets, commissioned by HSBC and conducted by Ipsos, found that 85% of investors in Malaysia use AI for finance, placing the country among the top three markets surveyed and above the global average of 73%.
Malaysia ranked alongside mainland China at 85%, trailing only India at 86%.
Beyond finance, affluent and high-net-worth investors in Malaysia are also using AI for work and career (64%) and personal development (64%).
Investors still want human-AI synergy
Despite the strong adoption of AI for finance and investment, Malaysian investors continue to place significant value on the judgement and expertise of financial professionals and institutions.
More than half, or 58%, of respondents said their ideal approach to future financial decision-making is a Human-AI partnership, highlighting the continued importance of human oversight alongside AI-driven insights.
Financial professionals and institutions remain the leading source of investment ideas for Malaysian investors, cited by 65% of respondents. They are also the most influential factor in investment decisions, at 39%, more than double the influence of AI tools, which stood at 16%.
When asked why they turn to financial professionals and institutions when making financial decisions, 85% cited reassurance, while 76% cited strategic expertise.
This expertise includes spotting mistakes in AI-generated data (31%), providing personalised interpretation of complex data (31%) and applying judgement and validation (30%).
Linda Yip, Country Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC Malaysia, said technology provides speed, but human relationships remain important in building trust.
“Technology gives us speed, but human connection builds trust. The future of banking lies in a seamless partnership between AI-driven insights and human expertise. By pairing advanced analytics with human relationships, we aim to support our clients with the confidence to navigate, invest and pursue growth in an increasingly complex financial landscape.”
Gen Z and Millennials lead AI adoption
The survey also found that younger generations are leading the use of AI for financial and investment decisions.
Millennials aged 30 to 45 recorded the highest adoption at 89%, followed by Gen Z aged 21 to 29 at 86%. Generation X investors aged 46 to 61 recorded AI adoption of 85%, while Baby Boomers aged 62 to 69 recorded 78%.
While AI adoption remains high across all generations, the findings show that it has not eliminated the need for professional financial insights.
For Gen Z investors, AI is particularly being used for analysing portfolio performance (61%) and generating new investment ideas (57%).
Among Millennials, 53% use AI for both portfolio performance analysis and generating new investment ideas.
Overall, 58% of Malaysian respondents said their preferred approach to future financial decision-making is based on a partnership between human expertise and AI.
AI gives investors a greater sense of control
The growing use of AI also appears to be influencing investors’ sentiment towards their finances and investment decisions.
According to the survey, 57% of Malaysian investors said AI makes them feel more in control of their investments, compared with 21% who said it makes them feel less in control.
AI is also influencing investors’ willingness to take calculated risks. More than half, or 54%, said AI makes them more willing to take calculated risks, more than double the 25% who said it makes them more cautious.
The findings suggest that while AI is increasingly becoming a tool for investment research and decision-making, investors continue to see value in combining technology with professional judgement.
HSBC advances Human-AI approach with Wealth Intelligence
HSBC Malaysia is advancing this Human-AI hybrid approach through the launch of Wealth Intelligence, a generative AI-enabled platform designed to analyse and summarise insights from multiple data sources.
These sources include HSBC Chief Investment Office house views, market commentary and comprehensive analysis of unit trust funds.
The platform is intended to support Relationship Managers with personalised, data-driven insights, helping them provide customers with information that is timely, relevant and practical for conversations surrounding investment decisions.
The initiative reflects HSBC Malaysia’s commitment to developing AI solutions for both customers and colleagues, while strengthening the role of Relationship Managers through the use of advanced analytics and data-driven insights.
HSBC emphasised that Wealth Intelligence-generated insights are for the internal use of Relationship Managers and do not themselves provide investment advice or recommendations to customers.
The development highlights the bank’s focus on combining AI-powered financial insights with human relationships and professional expertise as investors increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence into their approach to wealth management and investment decisions.
