AI Adoption at Professional Services Firms: Balancing Trust and Tech

Businesses that sell confidential advice can still harness AI to provide the innovative services that clients expect without compromising their personal information. Artificialintelligence (AI) dominates many conversations.For some people, AI is a catalyst for innovation.For others, it is a threat cloaked in code.At the recent Attorneys for Family-Held Enterprises (AFHE) Spring Conference, I asked advisors to rate their own AI usage and fears on a scale from 1 to 10.The responses painted a familiar picture of curiosity mixed with concern.One advisor quipped, "I've used ChatGPT to write emails, but I still don't trust it with anything sensitive."I shared how to create a customized GPT that protects sensitive client information and does not share data with large language models (LLMs).Another enthusiastic advisor described AI adoption as "table stakes" for maintaining relationships with Next-Gen clients, who expect personalized planning, 24/7 access, and digital transparency.He is worried about retaining Assets Under Management ( AUM) from younger owners.