40% LinkedIn posts written by AI: How reliable is the financial advice you take?

Scroll long enough on LinkedIn and you will find the expert telling you “the one financial mistake to not make.” The learning arc sounds real, with followers seeking advice in the comment section.A recent study by Pangram Labs shows that almost 40% of long-form posts on LinkedIn, 13% on Reddit and 10% on Substack are generated by AI. After a scan of over a million posts across these social media platforms, LinkedIn is discovered to be the most AI saturated platform.Another study by Techradar found that finance is leading among all sectors with 73.8% of posts reflecting AI usage, followed by technology at 57.8% and legal at 54.7%. As per the study, nearly three-quarters of finance-related posts showed a high degree of AI involvement.While many readers rely on these platforms for expert advice before making a financial decision, this alarming data questions who these ‘experts’ really are. Their lack of financially sound and accurate observation indicates that the performative gurus are simply following and adhering to woo the algorithm, helping them increase their reach.WHAT BUSINESS MODELS DO LINKEDIN AND REDDIT FOLLOWThis becomes important for LinkedIn, as its credibility model has relied on the assumption that there exists a person speaking from real experience behind the screen. As the promise breaks, so does the confidence of the audience. Readers are either left confused or dissatisfied upon considering the overly ambitious numbers as legit responses.The anonymous users of Reddit, despite having no obligation for accountability, have shown only 13% as AI-generated content. As per the report, only 1.7% of Reddit replies were flagged as AI-generated, compared to roughly 24% on LinkedIn.This shows that Reddit responses are contrary to the assumption that anonymity creates indifference.The application, with no real names attached, has managed to remain more human. For example, a financial claim on Reddit gains credibility only after a community has tested it. It does not fixate on the writer's experience but gets validated once the reader attempts a trial.CAN YOU OUTSMART THE AI FINANCE EXPERTS?As many suggestions have disguised themselves as experts' take, readers seek transparency for a method to differentiate between human written and AI advice.Naqeeb Ahmed Kazia, Partner at CMS INDUSLAW told India Today Digital that there is no reliable test for the exact identification of the widespread AI advice on social media platforms.This means that readers should judge the source rather than the prose. They are advised to check for a verifiable identity, a Sebi registration number that can be cross-checked on Sebi's website, and candid disclosure of risks and conflicts of interest."Primary accountability rests with the person or entity publishing the advice, as giving investment advice to the public without Sebi registration is itself a violation, whether or not AI wrote the content," he said."Platforms where the content is posted enjoy safe harbour protection under Section 79 of the IT Act and AI developers are shielded by their terms of use, so practical recovery for an investor remains difficult," said Kazia.Similarly, the other outcome for genuine content from human experience flagged as AI is equally possible. As AI-detection tools are probabilistic and error-prone, genuine human writing, particularly financial commentary or legal writings, are frequently mislabelled as AI-generated.(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)- EndsPublished By: Radhika VermaPublished On: Aug 4, 2026 15:56 IST