Latest news with #Aitcheson
Global News
15-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Canadians should be cautious using AI for financial planning, experts say
As Canadians increasingly turn to AI chatbots for help with everyday tasks like meal planning, workout routines and even mapping out vacation itineraries, some are also using it to help manage their money. 'It's a personal financial assistant,' said Martin Dasko, a content creator focused on personal finance. One way Dasko uses AI is to set up savings plans for upcoming vacations by giving ChatGPT a prompt about his savings target and asking for a plan on how to achieve that amount within a specific timeline. 'It'll give you a monthly plan to follow,' he said. 'It's all in one spot … You can get a table, a chart and it's easier than ever.' In the age of do-it-yourself investing and robo-advisers, AI chatbots have become another go-to for many young Canadians to set up budgets and map out financial goals. But experts say you need to have a solid sense of your finances first in order to get suitable answers. Story continues below advertisement 'There is a little bit of work that the individual needs to do to be confident and accurate in the numbers that it produces,' said Sun Life financial planner Katelyn Aitcheson of AI chatbots. 2:37 AI technology is 'promising' for job, economic growth: Freeland That means knowing the basics such as the difference between your fixed and variable expenses, recurring versus one-time expenses and even what your net worth is. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Aitcheson recalled a client who recently bought a new home and turned to a generative AI chatbot to help decide whether to get life insurance or mortgage insurance for the house. 'It did give her a high-level overview of the differences between personally-owned life insurance and mortgage insurance,' Aitcheson said. But the AI response was missing the nuances. The chatbot didn't tell the client that she could buy additional insurance coverage to cover income replacement or that she could potentially reduce her coverage in a personal life insurance policy over time, Aitcheson said. Story continues below advertisement Still, AI chatbots are finding a place in managing everyday money. 'For a lot of people, the ability to grab some basic information very quickly and easily, and kind of cut through the noise, I think, is very powerful,' Aitcheson said. She said the technology can offer a fairly accurate breakdown of money allocation for financial goals such as saving for retirement or paying off a student loan — or at least putting a user on the right path. Dasko said the most common prompt people can use is: 'Help me create a monthly budget with (insert) income and (insert) expenses.' AI would then offer a budget style people can choose from, he said. Then, Dasko suggested customizing the plan with prompts such as: 'Where can I cut $100 to start saving more?' or 'Help me save $10,000 in the next year,' and 'What's a realistic monthly plan, or weekly plan or quarterly plan?' 6:42 Edmonton fund allows AI companies to reach global markets But it's not always safe to ask AI questions that may contain sensitive information, Check Point's cybersecurity evangelist Jane Arnett warned. Story continues below advertisement Canada doesn't yet have any legislation protecting AI users, and it's hard to know how the data is stored or used. 'Stop and think: 'Okay, with this that I'm putting in here, what would happen if I was giving this to someone who was trying to rob me right now?'' Arnett said. 'Basically, assume that anything you're putting into these systems is public information,' she said. She also cautioned that users might receive incorrect or half-baked information if the prompts aren't specific enough. 'You could end up with advice that is wrong, that is maybe for people in the United States but doesn't apply to people in Canada, maybe advice that's outdated,' she said. Arnett suggested verifying the information or financial plan spat out by the AI chatbot with a human financial adviser. 'You'll walk in knowing more and having a better and deeper conversation with your financial planner,' she said.
Hamilton Spectator
15-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Looking to AI for a financial plan? Take it more as guidance than gospel, experts say
As Canadians increasingly turn to AI chatbots for help with everyday tasks like meal planning, workout routines and even mapping out vacation itineraries, some are also using it to help manage their money. 'It's a personal financial assistant,' said Martin Dasko, a content creator focused on personal finance. One way Dasko uses AI is to set up savings plans for upcoming vacations by giving ChatGPT a prompt about his savings target and asking for a plan on how to achieve that amount within a specific timeline. 'It'll give you a monthly plan to follow,' he said. 'It's all in one spot … You can get a table, a chart and it's easier than ever.' In the age of do-it-yourself investing and robo-advisers, AI chatbots have become another go-to for many young Canadians to set up budgets and map out financial goals. But experts say you need to have a solid sense of your finances first in order to get suitable answers. 'There is a little bit of work that the individual needs to do to be confident and accurate in the numbers that it produces,' said Sun Life financial planner Katelyn Aitcheson of AI chatbots. That means knowing the basics such as the difference between your fixed and variable expenses, recurring versus one-time expenses and even what your net worth is. Aitcheson recalled a client who recently bought a new home and turned to a generative AI chatbot to help decide whether to get life insurance or mortgage insurance for the house. 'It did give her a high-level overview of the differences between personally-owned life insurance and mortgage insurance,' Aitcheson said. But the AI response was missing the nuances. The chatbot didn't tell the client that she could buy additional insurance coverage to cover income replacement or that she could potentially reduce her coverage in a personal life insurance policy over time, Aitcheson said. Still, AI chatbots are finding a place in managing everyday money. 'For a lot of people, the ability to grab some basic information very quickly and easily, and kind of cut through the noise, I think, is very powerful,' Aitcheson said. She said the technology can offer a fairly accurate breakdown of money allocation for financial goals such as saving for retirement or paying off a student loan — or at least putting a user on the right path. Dasko said the most common prompt people can use is: 'Help me create a monthly budget with (insert) income and (insert) expenses.' AI would then offer a budget style people can choose from, he said. Then, Dasko suggested customizing the plan with prompts such as: 'Where can I cut $100 to start saving more?' or 'Help me save $10,000 in the next year,' and 'What's a realistic monthly plan, or weekly plan or quarterly plan?' But it's not always safe to ask AI questions that may contain sensitive information, Check Point's cybersecurity evangelist Jane Arnett warned. Canada doesn't yet have any legislation protecting AI users, and it's hard to know how the data is stored or used. 'Stop and think: 'Okay, with this that I'm putting in here, what would happen if I was giving this to someone who was trying to rob me right now?'' Arnett said. 'Basically, assume that anything you're putting into these systems is public information,' she said. She also cautioned that users might receive incorrect or half-baked information if the prompts aren't specific enough. 'You could end up with advice that is wrong, that is maybe for people in the United States but doesn't apply to people in Canada, maybe advice that's outdated,' she said. Arnett suggested verifying the information or financial plan spat out by the AI chatbot with a human financial adviser. 'You'll walk in knowing more and having a better and deeper conversation with your financial planner,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
15-07-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Looking to AI for a financial plan? Take it more as guidance than gospel, experts say
As Canadians increasingly turn to AI chatbots for help with everyday tasks like meal planning, workout routines and even mapping out vacation itineraries, some are also using it to help manage their money. 'It's a personal financial assistant,' said Martin Dasko, a content creator focused on personal finance. One way Dasko uses AI is to set up savings plans for upcoming vacations by giving ChatGPT a prompt about his savings target and asking for a plan on how to achieve that amount within a specific timeline. 'It'll give you a monthly plan to follow,' he said. 'It's all in one spot … You can get a table, a chart and it's easier than ever.' In the age of do-it-yourself investing and robo-advisers, AI chatbots have become another go-to for many young Canadians to set up budgets and map out financial goals. But experts say you need to have a solid sense of your finances first in order to get suitable answers. 'There is a little bit of work that the individual needs to do to be confident and accurate in the numbers that it produces,' said Sun Life financial planner Katelyn Aitcheson of AI chatbots. That means knowing the basics such as the difference between your fixed and variable expenses, recurring versus one-time expenses and even what your net worth is. Aitcheson recalled a client who recently bought a new home and turned to a generative AI chatbot to help decide whether to get life insurance or mortgage insurance for the house. 'It did give her a high-level overview of the differences between personally-owned life insurance and mortgage insurance,' Aitcheson said. But the AI response was missing the nuances. The chatbot didn't tell the client that she could buy additional insurance coverage to cover income replacement or that she could potentially reduce her coverage in a personal life insurance policy over time, Aitcheson said. Still, AI chatbots are finding a place in managing everyday money. 'For a lot of people, the ability to grab some basic information very quickly and easily, and kind of cut through the noise, I think, is very powerful,' Aitcheson said. She said the technology can offer a fairly accurate breakdown of money allocation for financial goals such as saving for retirement or paying off a student loan — or at least putting a user on the right path. Dasko said the most common prompt people can use is: 'Help me create a monthly budget with (insert) income and (insert) expenses.' AI would then offer a budget style people can choose from, he said. Then, Dasko suggested customizing the plan with prompts such as: 'Where can I cut $100 to start saving more?' or 'Help me save $10,000 in the next year,' and 'What's a realistic monthly plan, or weekly plan or quarterly plan?' But it's not always safe to ask AI questions that may contain sensitive information, Check Point's cybersecurity evangelist Jane Arnett warned. Canada doesn't yet have any legislation protecting AI users, and it's hard to know how the data is stored or used. 'Stop and think: 'Okay, with this that I'm putting in here, what would happen if I was giving this to someone who was trying to rob me right now?'' Arnett said. 'Basically, assume that anything you're putting into these systems is public information,' she said. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. She also cautioned that users might receive incorrect or half-baked information if the prompts aren't specific enough. 'You could end up with advice that is wrong, that is maybe for people in the United States but doesn't apply to people in Canada, maybe advice that's outdated,' she said. Arnett suggested verifying the information or financial plan spat out by the AI chatbot with a human financial adviser. 'You'll walk in knowing more and having a better and deeper conversation with your financial planner,' she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
Ottawa Citizen
27-06-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Mark Seidel previews the 2025 NHL Entry Draft
Article content The 2025 edition of the NHL Entry Draft is scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Article content Below is a rundown of the top 20 Players for the Draft and an abbreviated 20-team mock draft I have prepared. Article content Deep Thoughts top 20 mock draft: Article content 1. NY Islanders — Schaefer: Franchise defender for the new GM Mathieu Darche Article content Article content 3. Chicago — Frondell: The big, strong Swede can play with Bedard Article content Article content 4. Utah — Desnoyers: The offensive upside and leadership intrigues them Article content 8. Seattle — Mrtka: The Kraken need some help on the back end and take the kid that plays for the hometown Thunderbirds Article content 9. Buffalo — McQueen: The intriguing package that McQueen offers is too enticing for the Sabres Article content 10. Anaheim — O'Brien: Pat Verbeek will love to see last year's No. 3 overall Sennecke play with the uber-smart Jake O'Brien. Article content 11. Pittsburgh — Aitcheson: The Pens need the rebuild to start and the competitive Aitcheson is a great start Article content Article content 12. Pittsburgh — Nesbitt: Dubas, Clark and Roque love to take kids from Ontario and a 6-foot-4, smart centreman will fit in perfectly Article content 13. Detroit — Eklund: Stevie Y loves his Swedish skill and Eklund has that in spades Article content 14. Columbus — Smith: The big, smart, steady D is a building block to help solidify the back end Article content 15. Vancouver — Bear: The western Canada product has shown he can play hard and put up points and the Canucks need both Article content 16. Montreal — Carbonneau: The Habs get the multi-dimensional Carbonneau to slot into the lineup in three years Article content 17. Montreal — Reid: The Kitchener Rangers defenseman has high IQ and makes plays, which are important to Kent Hughes Article content 18. Calgary — Reschny: The Flames are excited that the Victoria Royals star is still there to help their offensive prospect pool Article content 19. Columbus — Zharovsky: The Blue Jackets try to hit a home run with the super-talented, but inconsistent Zharovsky Article content 20. Winnipeg — Hensler: The Jets saw a lot of the steady defender Hensler at Wisconsin and he fits their style Article content
New York Times
25-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Penguins' NHL Draft, free agency, trades: Everything to know
PITTSBURGH — Kyle Dubas has frequently mentioned the urgency he feels to return the Pittsburgh Penguins to championship-caliber hockey. Of course, it's difficult to show urgency when attaining assets for future seasons has been the primary objective for 18 months. What comes next? The Penguins' general manager/president of hockey operations is squarely in the spotlight during the next couple of weeks, as an impatient fan base hopes to see signs of Dubas' plan shift into a different gear. Here is the background of what Dubas is facing, the ammunition at his disposal and what we know. When: 7 p.m. ET Friday (Round 1); noon Saturday (Rounds 2-7) Where: Los Angeles (draft picks), Pittsburgh (Dubas and Penguins front office — the draft is decentralized, meaning team executives will not be present at the draft, similar to the NFL approach) Penguins 2025 draft picks: The decision: Do the Penguins trade up? It would appear that they now have the draft capital to do so. Penguins' philosophy: Pardon the cliche, but the Penguins will select the best player available without hesitation. While their prospect pool is markedly better than when Dubas was hired two years ago, there isn't one area of strength that is overwhelming. Forwards, defensemen and goaltenders are all in play to be drafted. Advertisement Most likely first-round pick: Kashawn Aitcheson, defenseman, Barrie Colts (OHL). He'll probably be on the board at 11 or 12, and the Penguins like him a great deal. He plays a nasty, abrasive game, which Dubas believes the Penguins need. Dubas also has noted that the Penguins need help on the left side of their blue line. Aitcheson would be a safe, sensible pick. The X-factor: Roger McQueen, center, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL). Will he be available at 11 or 12? And will the Penguins take him if he is? McQueen is the biggest feast or famine player in this draft. Many believe the 6-foot-5 center has star potential, but a back injury kept him out of the lineup during most of last season, which concerns some teams. The potential trade-up target: Porter Martone, right wing, Brampton Steelheads (OHL). The Penguins love Martone. He's the rare power forward who could make quite an impact. Nashville is said to like him at No. 5, but if he drops past the Predators, it wouldn't be surprising to see Dubas move up a few spots and nab him. The sentimental mid-round pick: L.J. Mooney, U.S. National Team Development Program. Mooney is one of the most talented players in the draft, but there is one problem with the West Mifflin, Pa., native: He's only 5-7. Most projections have Mooney selected somewhere in the third, fourth or fifth round. Once upon a time, he was believed to be a top-10 pick, but his size will scare some teams away. The Penguins have a history of bypassing local products in the draft, including Brandon Saad, J.T. Miller, Vince Trocheck, John Gibson and R.J. Umberger. Dubas is well aware of Mooney, whose talent and heart have never been questioned. He is Logan Cooley's cousin. Penguins' current salary cap space: $22.9 million Unsigned restricted free agents: Conor Dewar, Philip Tomasino, Vasiliy Ponomarev, Conor Timmins, P.O Joseph Decisions to be made: It seems likely that the Penguins will retain at least some of the above-mentioned players, though much will depend on which of these players new coach Dan Muse believes will best fit his system. Advertisement The Penguins were relatively pleased with what they saw from Dewar and Timmins last season, and given their lack of depth in the bottom six and on the blue line, respectively, there's a reasonable chance both will return. While the Penguins' previous coaching staff believed Tomasino was at times too concerned with his stat line and not with his overall game, there is real talent there, and the Penguins will consider bringing him back as well. Ponomarev remains Penguins property but will play in the KHL next season. Joseph seemingly has had nine lives with the Penguins but may have used them all up, given his struggles last season. NHL free agency: Opens at noon ET on July 1. Unsigned unrestricted free agents: Matt Nieto, Matt Grzelcyk Decisions to be made: Under no circumstances will Nieto return to the Penguins, as his body and play badly deteriorated during his time in Pittsburgh. Grzelcyk wasn't a disaster in Pittsburgh, and he handled his duties on the top power play nicely. It's conceivable but unlikely that he will return. Dubas' plan: Look for this July 1 to be similar to last season's. Dubas has already publicly stated that he doesn't believe there is significant value available on July 1, which tends to be true. He will make a move or two in the early going of free agency, but he likely will sign players on short-term deals. He doesn't believe his team is ready to compete yet and doesn't want to lock himself into long-term deals. Though it is believed Dubas has authority from the Penguins' owners, Fenway Sports Group, to spend to the salary cap, it's unlikely that he will until his team shows postseason potential. This is where Dubas figures to be busy. He has already said that he intends to be active on the trade market, and there are many variables at play. Bad contract dismissal trades: The Penguins have perhaps as many bad contracts as any NHL team. They'd be happy to rid themselves of bad or questionable contracts, which include players such as Tristan Jarry, Ryan Graves, Noel Acciari, Erik Karlsson, Kevin Hayes and a handful of others. Huge-return trade market: The Penguins have two strong trade chips in Bryan Rust and Rickard Rakell, who would theoretically bring the Penguins a heavy return. Of course, they are Sidney Crosby's preferred linemates, which makes things tricky. Dubas' phone routinely rings with other general managers eager for these two, especially Rust, whose no-movement clause expires on July 1. Advertisement Young NHL player trade market: It's no secret that Dubas is heavily interested in young NHL players who can make an immediate dent, as opposed to acquiring more draft picks or prospects. The Penguins are satisfied with the number of draft picks at their disposal. Dubas wants players who can help the Penguins at the NHL level right now. (Photo of Kyle Dubas courtesy of the Pittsburgh Penguins)
