AI-Powered FinTech Adoption in India: A Comparative Study of Paytm and Groww

The incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the financial technology (FinTech) industry has significantly changed the interaction between users and digital financial platforms. This research examines customer views and adoption patterns concerning AI-driven services—like tailored robo-advisory, automated fraud detection, and chatbots—in two prominent Indian FinTech platforms: Paytm (mobile payments) and Groww (investment services). Employing a descriptive and comparative research framework, primary data was gathered from a sample of university students in Himachal Pradesh (N = 122). The research tool exhibited strong internal consistency (alpha = 0.88). Inferential statistical analysis, such as regression and independent samples t-tests, shows that perceived utility (beta = 0.565, p < 0.001) along with institutional trust are the key factors influencing user satisfaction and platform adoption. Notably, the results indicate a "Privacy-Convenience Paradox," where elevated digital literacy fails to reduce perceived data security risks, even with ongoing platform engagement. The research offers important revelations for financial service providers, indicating that although utility encourages adoption, lasting retention hinges on connecting technological ease with data privacy