Artificial intelligence is now part of daily life for Wall Street’s newest generation. A recent survey of Morgan Stanley 2025 North American summer interns shows just how popular and useful AI tools have become, even as concerns about their impact remain high.
Nearly all interns surveyed (96%) said they use some kind of AI tool at least occasionally, up from 75% two years ago. Daily usage has doubled since last year, according to Business Insider. In fact, 35% use AI every day, while 42% use it several times a week.
ChatGPT Leads
When it comes to which AI tools interns prefer, ChatGPT is the clear favorite. About 72% of interns use ChatGPT regularly, far ahead of competitors like Claude, Gemini, and Copilot.
Many Are Paying for AI
AI is apparently worth paying for, according to these interns. More than half (52%) said they’ve personally paid for a premium AI tool. 48% said they pay for ChatGPT Plus, reinforcing its dominance among the group.
Work Is the Main Use But Not the Only One
Interns are mostly using AI for work-related tasks:
- 79% use it to research new topics and summarize long documents
- 74% use it to write or edit emails and other text
- 56% use it for coding tasks like writing or debugging code
But many are also using AI in their personal lives:
- 45% for advice or vacation planning
- 36% to find recipes
- 34% to look up health information
- 19% to compare prices and shop
Most Believe AI Saves Time
AI is making life easier.
- 69% of interns said AI tools save them time
- 63% found them easy to use
- 54% said AI is helpful in daily life
- 46% said they now use browser search bars less often
Job Loss Fears Are Real
Despite their enthusiasm, many interns are uneasy about AI’s long-term effects on the finance industry. 58% are worried AI could replace jobs on Wall Street.
Still, most expect to use AI even more going forward: 78% said their AI use will likely increase, with 39% expecting a significant jump.
Misinformation and Privacy Are Big Concerns
Even as they embrace AI, interns remain cautious about what it produces.
- 48% are very concerned about misinformation and accuracy
- 39% are somewhat concerned
Data privacy is also a major worry:
- 35% are very concerned about how AI uses personal data
- 34% are somewhat concerned
Shaping the Future of Finance
Morgan Stanley’s survey gives insight into how the next generation of finance professionals views technology. With most respondents aged 21 or younger, these young professionals are likely to play a big role in shaping the future of Wall Street — and AI will clearly be a part of it.
