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'Do your own research': SEBI Chief's advice to investors as AI-powered surveillance targets fraudSEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey stresses personal due diligence as key to market safety, highlights AI tools, draft abridged prospectus, and urges a 30-second SEBI check for investor protection.By Prashant Nair  March 2, 2026, 7:02:32 AM IST (Published)2 Min ReadSEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey has emphasised that personal due diligence remains the ultimate safeguard against market risks, even as the regulator deploys high-tech tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), to purge the ecosystem of bad actors.

Speaking in an exclusive interview as Pandey completes his first year in office, the SEBI chief noted that while the regulator provides extensive disclosure frameworks, the responsibility for final decision-making lies with the individual.

"People have to learn to do their own research," Pandey stated. "The market is large, and there is so much information available... we want that information to be further streamlined."

To assist investors in navigating voluminous filings, SEBI is introducing a "draft abridged prospectus" format. The tool aims to distill critical data and risk factors into a handy document accessible via a QR code, ensuring that retail participants are not overwhelmed by 500-page disclosures when evaluating new companies.

The market regulator is also turning to Artificial Intelligence to combat the rising tide of "finfluencer" fraud.

"SEBI is using AI in a big way to find influencers who are transgressing the line of investment advice and giving advice without being registered," Pandey revealed.

This AI-driven surveillance identifies unregistered entities luring retail participants into unregulated accounts or speculative traps.

The focus on protection extends to the Futures & Options (F&O) segment, where "hyperactivity" in short-dated weekly options has raised alarms.

Pandey confirmed that SEBI is currently in a data-monitoring phase following the implementation of new risk metrics in December.

"We will continue to monitor this and have the data put it out before suggesting any further measures," he added, signaling a cautious, evidence-based approach to curbing speculative excesses.

The SEBI chairman urged a "30-second SEBI check" for all investors to verify regulated accounts before committing funds.Continue Reading(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)TagsSEBISecurities and Exchange Board of IndiaTuhin Kanta Pandey