Guest Post by Angela Li, co-op student

In the not-for-profit (NFP) space, AI is helping organizations better serve their communities and make data-driven decisions. From automating administrative tasks to analyzing donor trends and improving outreach strategies, AI allows NFPs to operate more efficiently with limited resources. It can also enhance transparency, track impact in real time, and support smarter program planning — ultimately helping organizations maximize their social good.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the financial technology (fintech) landscape. Once considered futuristic, AI is now at the core of how fintech companies operate — from improving customer experience to enhancing security and enabling smarter decision-making. Here’s how AI is reshaping the financial world.

1. Personalized Financial Experiences

AI allows fintech platforms to go beyond “one-size-fits-all” solutions. By analyzing a user’s or a donor’s transaction history, saving habits, and financial goals, AI can provide real-time, personalized advice. Whether it’s helping users budget more effectively or recommending tailored investment options, AI is making financial services more intuitive and user-centered.

2. Enhanced Fraud Detection and Risk Management

Traditional fraud detection systems rely on static rules, which can’t always keep up with sophisticated threats. AI, especially machine learning, can recognize unusual behavior and detect fraud in real time — significantly reducing risk. It’s also used in credit scoring and risk assessment, offering more accurate evaluations by factoring in non-traditional data sources like utility payments or online behavior.

3. Efficient Customer Service with Chatbots

AI-driven chatbots are now a standard feature in fintech apps. These bots can answer frequently asked questions, guide users through app features, and even help resolve simple issues — all without human intervention. This improves response times and reduces the workload on customer support teams, while still delivering high-quality, around-the-clock service.

4. Smarter Investing with Robo-Advisors

AI is also reshaping the investment world. Robo-advisors use algorithms to create diversified portfolios based on a user’s financial goals and risk tolerance. They automatically rebalance investments and react to market changes, often with lower fees than traditional financial advisors. Advanced AI tools also support high-frequency trading by analyzing real-time market data and executing trades within milliseconds.

5. Greater Financial Inclusion

Perhaps one of AI’s most powerful contributions to fintech is its ability to make financial services more accessible. Many people, especially in underserved communities, lack a formal credit history. AI helps solve this by using alternative data — such as mobile usage or payment behavior — to assess creditworthiness. This enables more people to access loans, open accounts, and participate in the financial system.

6. Regulatory Compliance and Automation

AI is streamlining back-end processes as well. Compliance with financial regulations — often a complex and costly task — is becoming more manageable through AI automation. Natural language processing (NLP) tools can scan documents for compliance issues, while machine learning systems can flag suspicious activity or reporting errors.

Final Thoughts

AI is no longer optional for fintech — it’s essential for all organizations to think about their AI strategy. By improving personalization, security, accessibility, and operational efficiency, AI is helping financial companies deliver better outcomes for users and the industry as a whole. As fintech continues to evolve, AI will remain at the forefront, shaping a more inclusive and intelligent financial future.

At Pllenty Inc., we’re excited to be part of this movement, exploring how innovative technology can empower people to make smarter financial choices.