Vritti March 2018 | Page 6

6 vritti March 2018 Robo-advisors are just about finding their feet in the fintech world, despite being around for nearly a decade. Now, let's be objective- what's there not to like in a software-based platform performing the role of a financial advisor? After all, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into portfolio management software offers several advantages-both in terms of saved time and gathering data and interpretation of the same. With zero human intervention, financial services are available at any time of the day, all based on the customer's propensity for risk in new and existing investments. Sounds viable? In any Trending Now case, this technology isn't shifting out of focus anytime soon, what with robo- advisors under full control of AI systems pegged to reach $987 billion per annum in assets under management (AUM) by 2022, as per Juniper Research. Just a brief side- note, this forecast refers to “hybrid” robo- advisors, which, as per Juniper, will dominate 66 per cent of global robo-advisory AUM in 2022. In other words, the input of a human advisor will play a key role, primarily to mitigate a customer's fears of leaving financial decisions in the hands (or design, in this case) of an algorithm. Ironic, isn't it?