# What happens when AI systems are used to autonomously trade stocks?

_Last updated: 2026-07-20_  
_Reviewed by: Jason Burns, Editorial Steward_  
_Published by: AIDirectAnswers.com · Licensed under Citation License 1.0_

## Short answer

AI-driven autonomous trading systems execute buy and sell orders at machine speed based on model predictions; they now account for a large share of market volume and have contributed to flash crashes and other rapid market dislocations. As Gary Gensler, put it on the record: "When broker-dealers and investment advisers use predictive data analytics and similar technologies in a way that optimizes for their own interests as well as their investors' interests, it can lead to conflicts of interest."

## Sources

- [undefined](https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2023-140)

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_Author: [Jason Burns](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-randolph-burns), Editorial Steward_  
_Published: 2026-07-20 · Modified: 2026-07-20_  
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