The study, which surveyed 1,000 Irish respondents, shows that 36% of consumers feel more comfortable opening up to AI about their spending, while a further 37% say they are just as honest with AI as they would be with another person.
This growing openness suggests that AI is becoming more than just a practical tool, it is emerging as a judgement-free space where users feel more comfortable confronting their financial habits.
“People often start using AI in a very practical way, before they trust it emotionally. That psychological distance — almost like opening up to a stranger on a train — can make it easier to be honest about money, which in turn brings the real benefit: saving more of it. Over time, as people test the advice and see what works, the relationship shifts. It starts to feel like a thinking partner rather than a calculator,” said Dr. Nick Hobson, behavioural scientist and Consulting Director at Influence at Work.
“And that opening up may travel further than the AI conversation itself. It works like a sort of social gym. It offers a low-stakes space to rehearse the tricky conversations, asking for a raise, setting financial boundaries with family, without the fear of judgment that comes with the real thing. Once people experience what honesty about their finances actually produces, the barrier to having those conversations with other people gets lower. The practice spills over, and they show up to the human conversation a little more prepared, and a little less afraid.”
This sense of psychological safety is translating into real-world impact. Nearly half (49%) of Irish users have already used AI to support a personal finance decision, with many turning to it in moments of financial stress.
For many, the results are tangible. One in three respondents say AI helped them save money in the past year, with more than a quarter of those reporting savings of over €500.
Joe Wilson, Chief Evangelist at bunq, said: “It’s a dynamic time. People are increasingly turning to AI for help with everyday decisions – and it only works when it’s genuinely built around their lives. Whether it’s understanding your money or making more informed choices, the value comes from reducing friction, not adding more noise. The real impact happens when AI moves beyond being just another feature and becomes something people actually rely on, because it consistently makes things easier.”
As users grow more comfortable opening up to AI, trust remains closely linked to established financial institutions. Two-thirds of respondents say they trust AI tools developed by their bank more than generic chatbots, highlighting the role of institutional trust in turning curiosity into action.
Internationally, Ireland is emerging as one of the stronger adopters of financial AI. Irish users are already ahead of those in the UK and the United States when it comes to integrating AI into everyday financial life.
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