Generative artificial intelligence (AI), or GenAI, is becoming a common tool for retail investors—individuals who buy and sell stocks for themselves rather than for institutions. A recent study, based on over 410,000 investor queries to a major brokerage's GenAI chatbot and surveys of nearly 2,200 investors, shows that nearly half of the surveyed investors have used GenAI to process financial information or make investment decisions. Instead of asking for direct recommendations, such as "What stock should I buy?", investors often use GenAI to ask nuanced questions, like "How healthy are this company's profit margins?" This suggests that investors are using GenAI more as a research assistant than a decision-making tool. The study, led by Joe Croom, an assistant professor of accounting at Indiana University Kelley School of Business, found that investors initially use GenAI to screen stocks and evaluate companies. However, as they become more familiar with the technology, they begin to use it for more detailed analysis, such as interpreting specific company news. The findings were published in the Journal of Accounting and Economics under the title "Generative AI and Investor Processing of Financial Information." Other researchers involved in the study include Elizabeth Blankespoor from the University of Washington and Stephanie Grant from the University of Illinois. Analysis of chatbot activity showed that while many users tried GenAI briefly, 17.7% of users have incorporated it into their regular investment routines. Almost half of the surveyed investors have used GenAI, and nearly a fifth use it regularly. The data were collected in 2024, and the researchers believe these numbers have increased since then. Among users, 65% cited GenAI's ability to speed up information processing, and 59% praised its ability to simplify complex data. However, concerns about reliability (54%), data privacy (50%), and response quality (46%) were also noted. Despite these concerns, 74% of GenAI users believe it improves their ability to process financial information, and 80% plan to continue using it. Nonusers, however, were more skeptical, with 55% unsure if GenAI would help them process information better. Only 24% said they were unlikely to use it in the future, indicating that adoption may still grow. The study suggests that more experienced investors are better at using GenAI's advanced features, potentially widening the gap between sophisticated and less experienced investors. This challenges the idea that GenAI will democratize financial markets, as the most experienced investors are currently leading its adoption. The research was conducted using data from Public, a popular investment platform with millions of users. The findings have implications for regulators, who may need to develop education programs and safeguards for investors using GenAI. They also suggest that companies should consider how to communicate with investors who rely on these tools. As more investors turn to GenAI, understanding how these technologies influence financial decision-making is becoming increasingly important for the stability and fairness of capital markets.