AI and Fintech: How Smart Algorithms are Redefining Financial Services

Khaleej Times

14-04-2025

The fintech industry has emerged as one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy, powered by cutting-edge technology and digital-first solutions. At the heart of this transformation lies Artificial Intelligence (AI) — a technology that is not only enhancing the way financial services operate but also redefining the relationship between businesses and consumers.
The numbers speak for themselves. Today, the global fintech market is valued at $340.1 billion, and the market value of AI within fintech alone stands at an impressive $44.08 billion. According to Fortune Business Insights and Statista, this figure is expected to rise to $50 billion over the next five years, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%.
This growth is largely fuelled by AI's ability to streamline operations, mitigate risk, and personalise services. In fact, a McKinsey report reveals that approximately 72% of companies already leverage AI in at least one business function, whether it's customer service, security, or financial analysis. The appeal is clear — businesses that adopt AI-driven solutions report marked improvements in efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction.
Smart algorithms and machine learning models are now deeply embedded in fintech offerings such as digital wallets, online banks, investing platforms, and personal finance apps. By leveraging AI, companies can streamline financial processes, enhance business partnerships, and make smarter, faster decisions based on real-time data.
AI-Driven Fintech Innovation
The UAE has positioned itself at the forefront of AI integration within fintech, strategically leveraging advanced technologies to redefine traditional banking and financial services. As Neeraj Gupta, CEO of Policybazaar.ae, observes: 'The UAE is actively integrating AI into fintech solutions to improve banking, payments, fraud detection and financial security.'
Financial institutions across the UAE are deploying AI-powered chatbots, robo-advisors, and biometric authentication systems to deliver seamless, personalized customer experiences in digital banking. These AI tools not only enhance user interaction but also streamline internal processes, making financial services more efficient and customer-centric.
Crucially, banks in the UAE are harnessing AI to bolster their risk management frameworks. AI-driven systems are enabling real-time fraud detection and risk assessment, ensuring compliance with stringent anti-money laundering regulations.
Furthermore, AI plays a pivotal role in optimising payment systems, automating credit scoring, and facilitating secure blockchain-based financial transactions. 'Government-backed initiatives like the UAE's AI Strategy 2031 and the DIFC FinTech Hive are providing a fertile environment for AI-driven innovation to thrive, encouraging fintech startups and established players alike to harness the potential of artificial intelligence,' Gupta adds.
Transforming Financial Services
The impact of AI-driven automation is most visible in key financial services that once relied heavily on manual intervention. As Gupta highlights, 'With the advancement of technology, AI has transformed the financial market. Loan approvals have become quicker as AI determines credit risk more accurately.'
By analysing vast datasets, AI algorithms can assess an applicant's creditworthiness with unprecedented speed and precision, reducing the time taken to approve loans and extending financial inclusion to previously underserved segments.
'Customer service has also undergone a radical transformation, says Gupta. 'Chatbots and virtual assistants, powered by AI, handle routine customer inquiries instantly, eliminating the need for long wait times and improving service quality. In the insurance sector, AI is streamlining the often cumbersome claims process by automating paperwork and expediting claim settlements.'
Another critical area witnessing significant improvement is fraud detection. Traditional methods of identifying suspicious transactions often lag behind the speed of fraudulent activities. AI, however, can analyse transaction patterns in real time, flagging anomalies and preventing potential threats before they escalate. This proactive approach has reinforced customer trust and made financial services safer and more reliable.
Elevating Customer Experience and Financial Accessibility
Fintech platforms are rapidly making financial services more accessible, efficient, and secure — thanks to AI. The integration of AI into financial ecosystems is not only simplifying processes but also empowering customers with tools that once seemed out of reach.
'Fintech firms backed by AI are making financial literacy tools easily accessible,' says Gupta. 'With technology like robo-advisors, the customer can now get personalised financial advice, automatically manage their portfolio, and make the most of budgeting tools. Chatbots are providing instant customer support, answering queries, and guiding users through financial processes, thus improving customer experience.'
Beyond convenience, AI is playing a crucial role in strengthening financial security. Gupta emphasises: 'AI-powered fintechs are also enhancing cybersecurity. AI can easily detect and prevent cyber threats, making sure that customer data and financial transactions remain secure.'
Sundeep Gantori, Equity Strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management's Chief Investment Office, highlights the broader impact of AI in the fintech space: 'The use of generative AI in fintech customer care has proven to be a remarkable success. Recent corporate filings from industry leaders, including early AI adopters such as Meta and Klarna, indicate significant productivity gains. To measure employee productivity, we compared revenue per employee metrics since the end of 2022, the year generative AI applications like ChatGPT were first introduced. Meta's revenue per employee improved from $1.35 million in 2022 to $2.22 million in 2024 (more than 64% improvement in two years). For Klarna, we see an even stronger improvement from $0.34 million to $0.82 million (more than 140% improvement in two years).'
Revolutionising Wealth Management
AI's role in wealth management is not exactly new. As Gupta points out, 'AI in wealth management started in the 1990s with simple tasks like data entry. Today, AI analyses huge amounts of data, predicts trends, and automates tasks, helping advisors work faster and smarter.'
Over the years, what began as a tool for operational efficiency has evolved into a powerful engine for decision-making. AI is now capable of creating personalised investment strategies, identifying risks before they materialize, and enhancing client engagement through intelligent automation.
Gupta highlights the scale of this transformation, stating, 'With AI-managed assets expected to hit $6 trillion by 2027, it's becoming a crucial part of financial services, not just an extra tool.'
One of the most promising applications of AI in wealth-tech is real-time portfolio risk monitoring. Sonali Goila, Head of Venture Capital at Aditum, emphasises its potential to redefine the investor experience.
'AI and wealth-tech combined, has the potential to bring about phenomenal transformation in improving accessibility, predictive planning, transparency, automation, and eventually personalisation and sophistication,' she explains.
According to Goila, real-time risk monitoring allows AI to 'sift through vast amounts of data and conduct deep research and analysis on how daily news could affect an investor's portfolio, giving him real-time insights to make informed investment decisions.' What makes this advancement particularly powerful is that it democratizes access to sophisticated analysis — something that, in the past, would have required costly engagements with specialist research houses.
Beyond investment decisions, AI is also strengthening the backbone of wealth management — security and client service. Goila notes that 'AI's predictive engines for fraud detection, and advanced CRM agents are the other strong use-cases AI is bringing to wealth-tech.' These innovations help institutions detect anomalies faster, preventing fraudulent transactions before they occur, while simultaneously delivering a superior client experience through intelligent, responsive customer relationship management systems.
Robo-Advisors vs Traditional Advisors
As fintech continues to disrupt financial services, robo-advisors have emerged as a popular choice for investors seeking affordable and automated solutions. But how do they truly stack up against traditional financial advisors when it comes to cost-effectiveness and performance?
Robo-advisors have carved a niche in the market, particularly due to their low-cost model. By leveraging automation and algorithm-driven portfolio management, they offer efficient solutions without the hefty fees associated with human advisors.
'Robo-advisors certainly excel in cost effectiveness. Due to their automated portfolio management, they can get the job done at lower costs,' explains Gupta. 'However, while they perform well for passive investing, they lack the personalized planning of traditional advisors.'
While robo-advisors are ideal for hands-off investors, traditional advisors bring human insight and customisation to the table — factors that can prove crucial in volatile or complex markets. Gupta points out: 'Traditional advisors can tailor strategies through human expertise, which can drive performance better and prove beneficial for ever-evolving requirements and markets.'
Interestingly, the line between robo and human advisors is beginning to blur, thanks to the rapid advancements in AI. Goila highlights how AI is revolutionising the space:
'Current robo-advisory solutions are making investment advisory services available to the masses, attracting customers who previously didn't engage much with human financial advisors,' she says.
Goila emphasises the shift from a 'one-size-fits-all' approach toward hyper-personalised portfolios.
'We are seeing a shift towards using AI to create bespoke portfolios based on each user's requirements, risk tolerance, and investment goals. This could make robo-advisory more valuable to investment decisions than it is today, while also solving for the monetization challenges many robo-advisors face currently.'
She further adds that startups focusing on AI-driven heuristics tailored to user demands are poised for long-term success. 'As AI continues to evolve, the next phase of AI transformation could involve replacing human analysts with AI analysts for portfolio management. If this is done well, these robo-advisors could replace or even outperform humans in the long term.'
Tackling Bias, Privacy, and Security
While AI holds immense potential in the fintech space, its adoption doesn't come without concerns — particularly around algorithmic bias, data privacy, and security. Responsible innovation, therefore, remains at the heart of successful fintech applications.
Algorithmic bias is one of the key risks associated with AI. To mitigate this, fintech companies are increasingly focusing on data diversity and transparency. 'AI in fintech addresses bias through algorithm audits, diverse data sets, and enhanced transparency,' says Gupta. Regular audits ensure that AI models don't reinforce existing societal biases, while a commitment to diverse data sets ensures more accurate, inclusive outcomes.
Data privacy is non-negotiable in an era of hyper-connectivity. Gupta highlights that fintech firms are taking rigorous steps to safeguard sensitive information. 'Data is safeguarded through data minimization, strong encryption, and user consent,' he explains. 'Security challenges are met with strong cybersecurity measures, regular audits, and compliance with regulatory standards. All of this is aimed at nurturing customer trust.'
Will AI eventually Replace Human Financial Advisors?
As AI continues to revolutionise industries, many have speculated whether it could eventually replace human financial advisors. However, industry experts believe AI is more likely to complement human expertise rather than fully replace it. The future seems to be leaning toward a hybrid model, where AI enhances the efficiency and accessibility of financial services while human advisors remain at the helm, guiding clients with personalized strategies.
While AI won't replace financial advisors, it holds immense potential to streamline many routine aspects of financial planning. Gupta explains: 'Tools don't replace humans — they just boost efficiency and performance.' By leveraging AI to gather client data more quickly and accurately, advisors can save both time and resources. This leaves more room for delivering tailored advice that meets the evolving needs of clients.
While the efficiency gains from AI are undeniable, the human touch remains essential in financial planning. The ability to craft personalised strategies, assess risk, and adapt to complex and ever-changing market conditions is something that machines simply cannot replicate. Human advisors bring a level of empathy, creativity, and adaptability to the financial decision-making process that AI cannot match.
Gupta further emphasises, 'AI is unlikely to replace human financial advisors — it will rather enhance experts' performance. By leveraging AI, humans can actually form a hybrid model and provide tailored and scalable financial solutions.' This hybrid model, where human advisors combine their expertise with AI's capabilities, is poised to become the future of financial services.