Artificial intelligence (AI) has come to the forefront of almost every sector, and investing is no exception.
At the India Today Conclave Mumbai 2025, experts discussed how AI is changing stock market investing, whether it can replace traditional methods, and what role human judgement will continue to play.
AI AS A TOOL, NOT A REPLACEMENT
Pramod Gubbi, Co-Founder of Marcellus, explained that AI is already being used in research and analysis.
“For a first-cut research on a new company, an analyst would take about 15 days. Today, with AI, we can do it in 15 minutes. It’s not 100% accurate, so it doesn’t mean AI gives you insight, but it boosts productivity. Instead of a 10-member team covering 500 stocks, we can cover 2,000 stocks with the same bandwidth,” he said.
However, Gubbi stressed that AI should be seen as a support system, not a replacement for human thinking.
“AI is a tool. It will not give you the blinding insight a human analyst may arrive at. For retail investors, mutual funds remain a safer choice because professionals dedicate their time to research and have learnt from their mistakes. At the same time, AI tools are democratising investing by giving retail investors access to research capabilities that once only fund managers had,” he added.
SIMPLIFYING INVESTING FOR RETAIL PARTICIPANTS
The discussion also highlighted the confusion retail investors face with too many investment options. Nilesh Shah, MD of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management, pointed out that despite the growing awareness, many Indians still prefer keeping money in cash rather than investing. “There are 38 lakh crore worth of currency notes lying idle. Mutual fund investment is only about 10 to 11 lakh crore. I’m still trying to convince people that money will not grow sitting at home. Mutual funds may have ups and downs, but they will build wealth over time,” he said.
Shah suggested multi-asset allocation funds as a simple solution for investors. “If you invest in one multi-asset allocation fund, you get exposure to debt, equity, and precious metals. These funds have outperformed most individual investors. The message is simple: don’t complicate investing when easy solutions exist,” he added.
LONG-TERM MARKET TRAJECTORY
Looking at the broader market outlook, Madhusudan Kela, Promoter of MK Ventures, reminded the audience of his earlier prediction when Sensex was at 3,000. “Back then, I said it will go to 30,000, and people didn’t believe it. Today it has crossed 85,000. The direction is clear—it will go to 1 lakh or even 2 lakh, though we don’t know the timeframe,” he said.
Kela pointed out that India has seen an $8 trillion wealth effect in recent years, with most of it owned by Indian investors. “This is the biggest driver for equity markets. Many people who still hold cash will eventually understand the power of compounding and equity investing,” he said.
The experts agreed that while AI will change how research is done, it will not replace human judgement. For retail investors, diversification, discipline, and professional management remain essential. AI tools may make research faster and more accessible, but investing successfully will still require patience, a long-term view, and balanced asset allocation.
(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)
