Citi Launches AI Assistant for Wealth Management, Keeping Human Advisors in Control
Citi launched Citi Sky in April, an AI assistant designed to provide financial guidance and market insights to wealth management clients around the clock. The system, built with Google Cloud and Google DeepMind technology, marks a shift in how banks deliver advisory services-but the company is explicit that it will not replace human advisors.
Citi Sky uses agentic AI infrastructure to answer client questions, deliver market insights from the bank's chief investment officer, and conduct conversations through video and audio. The system launches in English and Spanish, with plans to add more languages.
Advisors Handle the Strategic Questions
Andy Sieg, head of wealth at Citi, said the AI frees advisors from routine tasks. "AI can synthesize vast amounts of data, provide real-time insights, engage with them 24/7, and provide quick reassurance and support on their financial lives," he said. "But it doesn't make the human advisor obsolete; it makes the human role more essential."
Citi Sky can confirm whether a client's finances are on track. A human advisor, however, must answer what that means for each individual and what steps come next. This separation of duties-AI handling data synthesis and routine questions, advisors making judgment calls-defines the bank's strategy.
The system reduces administrative work that has historically consumed advisor time, such as answering basic questions or scheduling meetings. This frees advisors to focus on clients' broader financial goals and concerns.
The Conversational Turn in Banking
Citi Sky relies on Generative AI and LLM technology to conduct natural conversations with clients. Google DeepMind's real-time avatar and Gemini's live audio and video models power the conversational interface.
The move reflects a broader industry shift from transactional digital banking toward conversational, intelligence-led advisory. For finance professionals managing client relationships or developing advisory platforms, the model shows how AI for Finance can augment rather than displace human judgment.
Your membership also unlocks:
