Americans Are Warming Up to AI — Enough to Trust It with $20K

A new survey shows growing interest in AI for money management, but trust still has its limits. 

Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped people plan weddings, solve relationship dilemmas, and even write movie scripts. But when it comes to managing money, people take a more cautious approach — and that’s understandable. 

As part of our ongoing effort to understand how Americans manage their finances, we asked over 3,000 adults across the U.S. how much money they'd be willing to let AI manage for them. The answer? Nearly $20,000 on average. 

But the numbers tell a deeper story. They reflect how people are navigating financial trust, personal comfort, and the growing role of technology — with curiosity, yes, but also with care.

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Key findings 

Some states are all in In 

In California, respondents said they’d trust AI to manage nearly $47,000 on average. That amount may reflect comfort with technology, or simply proximity to innovation hubs like Silicon Valley. Either way, Californians seem more open to giving algorithms a seat at the financial table. 

Caution leads the way in Wyoming 

The average amount people said they’d hand over to AI? Just $3,571. 

That kind of restraint likely goes beyond income — it reflects a deeper sense of skepticism or preference for personal control when it comes to finances. 

Middle America is open to the idea — sorta 

States like Iowa, Kansas, and Indiana came in below the national average, with responses ranging from $13,000 to $16,000. These results suggest a thoughtful, “wait and see” mindset. They’re not rejecting AI — they just want it to earn their trust. 

Education and wealth ≠ AI confidence 

Surprisingly, states like Massachusetts and Maryland — known for affluence, education, and tech talent — reported lower-than-average comfort with AI managing their money. Why? Possibly because people with access to financial advisors still prefer a face over a formula. 

Control still matters — a lot 

Even among those open to AI, only 17% said they’d be comfortable with it making major financial decisions on its own. People are curious about automation, but they want to stay in the driver’s seat. 

For some, AI feels safer than a partner 

Nearly 1 in 4 people (27%) said they’d rather trust AI with shared finances than their significant other. Whether it’s about reducing conflict or seeing tech as more neutral, it’s a sign AI is becoming a trusted tool (in some surprising ways). 

The main takeaway 

Trust in AI is growing, but not evenly across the board. 

Some Americans see AI as a helpful tool for managing money more efficiently. Others are still unsure, preferring the reassurance of personal experience and human advice. And both perspectives are valid. 

Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about new technology. It’s about who — or what — people believe will act in their best financial interest. Whether that’s a person, a program, or a combination of both, one thing is clear: people want to feel confident, in control, and supported when it comes to their money. 

Methodology 

Advance America surveyed 3,008 U.S. adults through a geographically representative online panel of double opt-in members. Participants were selected using a two-step process to ensure balanced representation by age, gender, and location. This was achieved through stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting. 

Respondent selection was further tailored to meet the precise criteria specific to this survey. To ensure quality and relevance, questions were carefully designed to screen and authenticate respondents, guaranteeing the alignment of the survey with the ideal participants. 

To protect the integrity of the data, we used an array of data quality methods. Alongside conventional measures like digital fingerprinting, bot checks, geo-verification, and speeding detection, each response was reviewed by a dedicated team member for quality and contextual accuracy. We also closely evaluated open-ended answers for clarity, originality, and potential plagiarism. 

Our goal: to gather honest insights from real people and better understand how Americans feel about AI and their finances decisions today.