Opportunity not threat. How advisers (and the FCA) are increasingly embracing AI

The acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) is on a continual upward trajectory among advisers, according to the latest Schroders UK Financial Adviser Pulse Survey 2025, just as the regulator steps in to support firms choosing to use it.

More than eight in 10 (82%) of advisers are now seeing artificial intelligence as an opportunity rather than a threat to their business.

This is a significant increase from 57% in May 2023 with a reduction in the number of advisers who would never use AI in their business reducing from 27% two years ago to only 7%.

Additionally, the survey reveals that 37% of advisers have already adopted some form of AI technology, nearly doubling from 21% in November 2024.  

A significant majority (75%) of advisers believe that the greatest benefits of AI lie in efficiency and automation.

The findings make interesting reading as the Financial Conduct Authority just announced it will launch a ‘supercharged sandbox’ to help firms experiment safely with AI to support innovation.  

Through a new collaboration, firms will have the opportunity to experiment with AI using NVIDIA accelerated computing and NVIDIA AI Enterprise Software. NVIDIA is a world leader in AI computing.

This supercharged sandbox will give firms access to better data, technical expertise and regulatory support to speed up innovation, the FCA said.

It is open to any financial services firm looking to innovate and experiment with AI.  

Jessica Rusu, the FCA’s chief data, intelligence and information officer, said:  “This collaboration will help those that want to test AI ideas but who lack the capabilities to do so. We’ll help firms harness AI to benefit our markets and consumers, while supporting economic growth.”  

The sandbox will help firms who are in the discovery and experiment phase with AI. An existing AI Live Testing service helps those further along in development and ready to use AI.  

In its new strategy, the FCA has committed to supporting economic growth by enabling innovation and harnessing technological advances like AI.  

Dr Jochen Papenbrock, EMEA head of financial technology, NVIDIA added: “AI is fundamentally reshaping the financial sector by automating processes, enhancing data analysis, and improving decision-making, which leads to greater efficiency, accuracy, and risk management across a wide range of financial activities.

“The FCA’s Supercharged Sandbox provides firms with a secure environment to explore AI innovations using NVIDIA’s full stack accelerated computing platform, supporting industry-wide growth and efficiency."

Firms can apply to use supercharged sandbox now through the FCA’s website. Successful applicants will be able to experiment from October.