The age gap runs nearly three to one, with younger investors far more comfortable letting AI assist
Forty-three percent of Canadian investors aged 55 and older would not be comfortable with artificial intelligence supporting their investment decisions, against 24 percent of those aged 35 to 54 and 15 percent of those aged 18 to 34.
The Fall 2026 RIA Investor Pulse Check put the national figure at 29 percent.
Human oversight of investment decisions was the leading condition investors attached to their comfort with AI, at 42 percent.
Confidence that personal information is protected followed at 41 percent, and the ability to speak with a human advisor before investment decisions are made at 40 percent.
Transparency about how AI is being used registered 37 percent, and protection against bias in AI analysis and recommendations 27 percent.
Patricia Fletcher, CEO of the Responsible Investment Association, said in the association’s release that investors “still want people in the picture when AI is used to support investment decisions.”
She said human oversight, privacy, and access to an advisor “all matter to investor comfort with AI.”
Use of technology and AI placed tenth of the 10 factors investors rate as very important when choosing an advisor, at 17 percent.
Understanding of an investor’s financial goals led at 68 percent, the ability to explain risks and opportunities at 65 percent, and professional qualification at 60 percent.
Understanding of personal values or preferences and fees each drew 55 percent.
Investment product offerings and explaining how economic, environmental and social issues affect investments each registered 46 percent, familiarity with the advisor or firm 44 percent, and years of experience 39 percent.
At least half of investors expressed interest in allocating a portion of their portfolio to every area tested.
Energy security led at 65 percent, followed by domestic manufacturing and supply chains at 64 percent, critical minerals at 62 percent, critical infrastructure at 59 percent, advanced technologies at 53 percent, and defence and security at 50 percent.
Interest tends to be moderate rather than strong.
Interest in critical minerals reached 67 percent in British Columbia and 65 percent in Ontario, against 49 percent in Quebec.
For advanced technologies the pattern reverses, with Quebec highest at 61 percent, Ontario at 55 percent and British Columbia at 46 percent.
Fletcher said “there is interest across every area we tested.”
She said the findings show differences in which areas draw the most interest.
She said energy security, domestic manufacturing and critical minerals are among the areas attracting “the most interest nationally.”
Inflation was the issue with the greatest impact on investment decisions, at 43 percent, followed by affordability at 37 percent, economic resilience in Canada at 30 percent and global geopolitical uncertainty at 29 percent.
Artificial intelligence and technological change registered 14 percent.
Inflation was cited by 55 percent of investors aged 18 to 34, against 34 percent of those aged 55 and older.
