Safaricom has introduced a new feature called AI Pay, which uses artificial intelligence to automatically extract payment details from printed or handwritten receipts. This feature is now available on the company's My OneApp platform, allowing M-PESA users to make faster and more accurate payments. With AI Pay, users can scan a receipt, and the system will identify the Till or PayBill number and the amount, pre-populating those fields on the payment screen.
The AI Pay feature is designed to make M-PESA transactions more efficient and convenient. According to Safaricom's Group Chief Technology Officer, James Maitai, the system processes the receipt, extracts relevant details, and determines the payable amount before the user authorizes the payment. This means that users no longer have to manually enter payment details, reducing the risk of errors and making transactions faster.
One of the key benefits of AI Pay is that it supports handwritten receipts, which are commonly used by small traders. This is a significant development, as many small businesses still issue scribbled invoices rather than printed statements. However, the AI will only auto-fill when the receipt contains clear payment information; faint or incomplete receipts will still require manual entry.
The My OneApp platform, which has been downloaded more than 7 million times, now offers AI Pay to its existing user base. This expands the app's suite of digital services, providing users with more convenient and efficient ways to manage their M-PESA transactions. The rollout of AI Pay follows Safaricom's broader push into AI-enabled payments, which began several months ago.
Safaricom acknowledges that the real-world performance of AI Pay will depend on various factors, such as messy handwriting, crowded receipts, and low-light shop environments. These factors will test the scanner's reliability, and the company is likely to continue refining and improving the feature over time.
The introduction of AI Pay is part of Safaricom's efforts to enhance its M-PESA services and provide users with more convenient and efficient ways to make transactions. By leveraging artificial intelligence, the company aims to reduce errors and make transactions faster, while also improving the overall user experience.
With AI Pay, Safaricom is poised to further solidify its position as a leader in the mobile payments market in Kenya. The company's focus on innovation and customer experience is likely to continue driving growth and adoption of its M-PESA services, as users increasingly seek out convenient and efficient ways to manage their finances.
Key points
- AI Pay uses artificial intelligence to automatically extract payment details from printed or handwritten receipts.
- The feature is now available on Safaricom's My OneApp platform, which has been downloaded more than 7 million times.
- AI Pay supports handwritten receipts and is designed to make M-PESA transactions faster and more accurate.
