Empowering Financial Decision-Making With AI Agents: A Case Study on Critical Thinking Development

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has opened new possibilities for personalized learning, yet its potential to develop higher-order thinking skills in specific domains such as financial literacy remains underexplored. This study investigates the impact of designing and using a personalized AI agent in a mobile application on developing critical thinking, decision-making autonomy, and financial behavior among undergraduate students. A qualitative exploratory case study was conducted with 27 students enrolled in a Personal Finance course at a private university in Mexico. Participants created their own AI-based financial planners using the Poe platform and reflected on the experience in responses to a structured questionnaire. Thematic content analysis using ATLAS.ti revealed that using AI agents produced (a) enhanced critical thinking through scenario-based simulations, (b) greater autonomy in financial planning and decision-making, (c) increased motivation for continued learning in personal finance, and (d) immediate adoption of financial actions to achieve long-term goals. This study contributes to the field by exploring how student-created AI agents can act as instructional tools and perceived catalysts for behavioral change. These findings are relevant for educators, instructional designers, and policymakers aiming to leverage emerging technologies to develop cognitive, and practical competencies in higher education.