Chatbots in Household Budget Management: A Comparative Study in the Context of Economic Vulnerability

Abstract

Household budget management is a central element of financial literacy, recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as a key determinant of financial inclusion, economic stability, and social participation. Despite efforts to promote financial education, significant weaknesses remain, reinforcing the need to resort to other accessible solutions in the current digital context, such as chatbots. Within this framework, this study analyses and compares the responses produced by different chatbots in solving a budget management task aimed at a family experiencing economic vulnerability. The results indicate that, overall, the models analysed demonstrated the ability to interpret the context and provide recommendations aligned with the principles of financial literacy, although differences were observed in the accuracy of calculations, clarity of responses, and suitability of the proposals to the family’s specific circumstances. Overall, the findings suggest that chatbots, when properly mediated by the user and used critically, can serve as complementary tools to support budget management and the development of financial literacy, particularly relevant for families in situations of greater economic vulnerability, although the information and recommendations generated should be verified in light of the limitations identified in the study.