Author: Dr Johann van der Lith

Artificial Intelligence is no longer confined to the back office. From chatbots handling complex queries to robo-advisers producing portfolio summaries, AI increasingly functions as a primary channel for communicating financial information. While this shift delivers efficiency and scale, it dilutes the “human touch” in explaining risk, a human advisor can gauge a client’s hesitation and offer nuanced guidance that an AI interface, optimised for speed and clarity, often omits. In the South African context, this creates a paradox. AI-driven disclosures promise to democratise access to financial information, yet they introduce opaque risks that threaten fairness, consumer protection and systemic stability.…