Financial gatekeeping remains a powerful force. Jargon‑filled tools, insider‑only platforms and time‑consuming research reinforce the message: “This market wasn’t built for you.”
But George Kailas, CEO of Prospero.AI, believes AI is the first force capable of disrupting that pattern at scale.
“We talk a lot about the wealth gap, but we rarely talk about the access gap—the gap in information, tools, time—all reminding the retail investor that this game is not for you. But AI can bridge these gaps. It’s not just about faster analysis—it’s about handing everyday investors the tools to play on a more leveled field. Plus, if it helps dismantle the old boys’ club of Wall Street, then it’s a win‑win.”
The Access Problem: Retail Left Behind
Nearly half of UK investors admit turning to social media and unregulated sources, like “finfluencers” and AI chatbots, to guide their financial decisions. Yet only a third sought formal financial advice in the past two years. Over 60% never accessed it at all, citing cost, limited availability and exclusionary professional norms. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority has since begun cracking down, removing over 650 pieces of questionable content in recent months.
In the U.S., Millennials and Gen Z lead the charge toward AI‑driven investing: 41% say they are comfortable letting AI manage their portfolio, compared to just 14% of Baby Boomers. This signals a generational shift, and a clear appetite for AI to fill the access void.
AI in Action: Tools That Level the Field
Tools are emerging to democratize finance in ways once reserved for institutions. Robinhood’s upcoming Cortex platform, for example, promises to help self‑directed investors navigate options and technical indicators with AI‑powered analysi. Vlad Tenev, CEO of Robinhood, frames AI not as a competitor to brokers, but as an essential ingredient in making advice affordable and scalable: coaches who could otherwise serve 100 clients might soon help 10,000.
Across the asset management world, Goldman Sachs and Citi are investing in Conquest, a Canadian startup that delivers AI‑driven planning tools to some 60,000 advisors—and potentially millions more investors,highlighting institutional belief in AI as a bridge, not a barrier.
Meanwhile, AI platforms like GreetEat’s sentiment analysis tool pull from over 50 data sources, turning hedge‑fund‑grade insights into digestible alerts for everyday retail investors.
Early Impacts and Market Shifts
The impact is already visible in retail behavior. With AI scanning thousands of stocks and real‑time data, investors are diversifying beyond the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants. Retail portfolio allocations to these stocks dropped from 10% last summer to about 1.1% by June 9. This signals a shift toward broader, data‑driven investing.
Barclays analysts note that AI tools are giving retail investors capabilities once restricted to sophisticated hedge funds, generating what one quant called “orders of magnitude” improvements in research speed and breadth . This shift could make markets more efficient and resilient by reducing concentration risk
Guardrails and Cautions
The promise is real, but so are risks. Fidelity reports that roughly 11% of UK investors rely on AI for advice, with a similar share trusting social media, yet regulators warn this can lead to risky decisions made in hours . In the U.S., experts caution that AI‑provided advice lacks transparency and human nuance—just 35% of Americans have a formal financial plan, in part due to distrust or misunderstanding.
George Kailas stresses that AI only bridges gaps when paired with transparency and equity. Users must understand how suggestions are generated, any model biases, and where human judgment remains essential.
democratization at scale
A Citigroup report confirms what many investors feel: 67% of asset managers believe democratizing private markets will be essential to the future of finance, and 61% see AI as a key enabler. The message is clear: the industry is investing in tools that make institutional‑level access available to retail and advisor channels alike.
Conclusion
Financial markets weren’t built for everyday investors, but AI may help change that. As George Kailas says, the focus shouldn’t be speed alone; it’s about giving individuals actionable tools and leveling the playing field. From generative‑AI chatbots to sentiment analysis platforms and robo‑advisors, these technologies break down barriers previously guarded by jargon and insider networks. The early data shows AI can help diversify portfolios and reduce concentration risk.
The ultimate test will be this: can AI reduce the access gap without sidelining human judgment? If it can, then dismantling that old boys’ club is not just idealism.