ChatGPT delivered a surprisingly grounded response when asked what a “normal person” should do to become financially free echoing advice long championed by seasoned investing experts.
The moment unfolded on The Diary of a CEO podcast, where host Steven Bartlett posed a deliberately simple question to the AI chatbot. Bartlett, who earns $50,000 a year in the hypothetical scenario, asked ChatGPT to give a one-sentence answer on achieving financial freedom, drawing on “all the wisdom in the world.”
Before revealing the AI’s response, Bartlett turned to guest JL Collins author of The Simple Path to Wealth and a leading voice in passive investing. Collins’ advice was succinct: avoid debt, live below your means, and invest the surplus.
ChatGPT’s answer closely mirrored that philosophy. The chatbot recommended consistently saving and investing in low-cost, broad-based index funds such as the S&P 500, while living below one’s means and allowing compounding to work over time.
Bartlett followed up with another broad question: “How do I earn more?” Once again, the AI’s advice aligned with traditional thinking suggesting the development of high-demand skills, seeking career advancement, exploring side hustles, or investing in assets that generate passive income like real estate or dividends.
Collins noted that the response closely resembled principles from his own work, joking that ChatGPT may have “mined his book.” However, the conversation also turned toward the future of work. Collins observed that skills like programming, once considered essential, may no longer guarantee security in the age of artificial intelligence.
That concern was echoed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who has warned that AI-driven automation could significantly disrupt employment. Altman has said that many customer support roles may be replaced by AI, and that roughly half of all jobs historically undergo major change every 75 years a process he believes may now happen much faster.
The exchange highlights a striking paradox: while AI is expected to reshape careers and disrupt labour markets, its financial advice at least for now remains firmly rooted in old-school discipline rather than get-rich-quick promises.
Short Summary
ChatGPT’s advice on becoming financially free surprised listeners by closely matching the guidance of veteran investor JL Collins emphasising saving, low-cost index investing, skill development and long-term compounding over flashy shortcuts.