Mercer Investments' AI integration in investment management 2024 global manager survey 

To tackle some of the questions around how AI is being deployed by investment managers, we assessed the current scope of AI integration and use cases across global managers’ investment processes and strategies.

Questions about the effects of AI are fundamental to the future of the investment management industry, a critical determinant of capital allocations − and investment performance and alpha generation − globally. Yet, the magnitude of “unknowns” surrounding AI and its potential impact on investment decision-making − from stock selection and asset allocation to the modelling of risk and return − may leave investors, portfolio managers and executive teams unsure of what questions to ask.

Mercer’s survey of managers across our Global Investment Manager Database (GIMD™) combines the views of key investment decision-makers and technology leaders to build a more comprehensive snapshot of managers’ current use of AI technologies; near-term plans for advancing AI capabilities; and expectations of the potential impacts of AI on investment strategies, product developments and operations.  

With nine out of 10 managers reporting current or planned use of AI in their investment processes, the question is no longer if, but how managers are implementing AI capabilities.

Our findings reveal that use of AI across investment strategies and research has expanded far beyond the traditional ‘quant’ cohort. 91% of managers are currently (54%) or planning to (37%) use AI within their investment strategy or asset class research.

While managers view AI as a driver of differentiation and competitive advantage, the ability to derive an alpha return from investment in AI – whether across investment processes or operations – will ultimately boil down to the implementation of capabilities. 

Among managers currently using AI, data quality and availability is the most-cited barrier to unlocking the technology’s full potential, followed by concerns around integration and compatibility, as well as ethical and legal considerations. The risks of divergent regulation are deemed significant by nearly half of managers.

Below are the key findings and considerations for asset managers. Download the report for the full findings.

Key findings from the survey

Top considerations for asset managers

AI integration in investment management

2024 global manager survey by Mercer Investments

Download the report to learn how AI is being deployed across the investment management industry and how investment managers are using generative AI across their organizations. 

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