Webull in Talks with Regulators Over AI-Assisted Trading Platform

Online brokerage Webull is in active dialogue with regulators as it rolls out a new platform allowing clients to connect artificial intelligence assistants like ChatGPT to their accounts to execute trades. The discussions center on the evolving regulatory definitions of agency and investment advice in an era of AI-powered finance, the firm's U.S. chief executive told Investing.com.

Navigating a New Regulatory Frontier

The central issue being examined is the distinction between an AI acting as a simple tool versus an autonomous decision-maker. "One of the questions we're working through is the distinction between an agent carrying out a customer's instruction and an agent making an investment decision itself," said Anthony Denier, Webull's group president and U.S. CEO.

Denier emphasized that these are "very different scenarios from a regulatory standpoint," prompting the company to proceed cautiously. The outcome of these discussions could set a precedent for how brokerages integrate generative AI into their platforms and manage compliance obligations.

Platform Features and Safeguards

Webull's Agentic Trading Platform uses a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server to enable investors to link AI assistants such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok to their brokerage accounts. This allows users to access account information, retrieve market data, and place, modify, or cancel trades using natural-language commands.

To mitigate potential risks, Webull has implemented several controls, according to Denier. These include:

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• Requiring an order preview before execution
• Capping the maximum size or value of an order
• Restricting trading to pre-approved symbols
• Setting access to read-only

Even with these guardrails, Denier confirmed that accountability rests with the client. "The underlying responsibility for the investment decision still sits with the investor," he stated.

The Future of Brokerage Interaction

Denier framed the move toward AI as the next phase in the evolution of retail investing, following the transitions from phone calls to websites and mobile apps. He noted that early interest in using natural language to interact with brokerage accounts has been “encouraging.”

Despite the technological shift, he asserted that the role of the brokerage remains critical. “Investors will continue to need a trusted financial institution behind the technology, particularly when it comes to their assets, execution, market data and the controls around their account,” Denier concluded.