Specialist-lending leaders have warned that AI should not replace human judgement in complex cases, while later-life advisers are reportedly seeking technology to address a potential capacity crunch. The distinction matters: specialist, later-life, buy-to-let and adverse-credit applications often depend on circumstances that do not fit neatly into standardised rules.
Advisers can use AI to prepare meeting notes, organise evidence, identify potential lender criteria and surface questions for further investigation. But affordability, vulnerability, capacity, foreseeable changes in circumstances and product suitability still demand experienced human judgement. Firms should be able to explain where AI was used, test for bias or unreliable outputs, and ensure advisers—not algorithms—remain accountable for recommendations.