A group of wealth and asset managers are backing a global study to explore how advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and other ‘transformative’ technologies will reshape the investment sector.

The research, conducted by ThoughtLab, will analyse how investment firms will harness the power of AI across their front, middle, and back offices to keep up with evolving customer and employee needs.

Firms that provide services to the wealth and asset management sector that are backing the research include FNZ, Grant Thornton, and London Stock Exchange Group.

The global study will survey 500 financial institutions in 16 markets, and will include insights from an advisory board of executives from wealth and asset management firms.

It will look to conduct analysis of the use of the latest AI technologies alongside adjacent technologies, such as IT platforms, blockchain, and data management systems.

The research initiative, The AI-Powered Investment Firm: How Wealth and Asset Management Providers Will Transform Their Businesses Through AI, will aim to deliver an actionable roadmap for ‘succeeding’ in the next stage of AI.

Financial services executives will be provided with a guide for driving business transformation and performance through AI and related technologies.

ThoughtLab said the study will show how firms can use AI-enabled digital solutions across value chains to create bespoke customer experiences, improve productivity, minimise risks, generate cost efficiencies, close the advice gap, and drive profitability and growth.

Furthermore, the research team will develop an industry-specific AI-maturity model for wealth and asset management firms that can be used to benchmark and optimise AI performance.

“AI will give industry executives the tools to navigate profound shifts already transforming the investment landscape, including an $80trn-plus wealth transfer to a new digital generation with high demands for personalisation, product democratisation, new business and service models, and reduced fees,” commented ThoughtLab CEO and program director, Lou Celi.

“Our pioneering research will provide wealth and asset management executives with the decision support they need to propel true strategic change through AI and other groundbreaking technologies.”

As part of the initiative, the study group will provide updates to the wealth and asset management sector over the next three months, with the full study findings and related tools to be released in Q4 2025.

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