The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has announced plans to infuse UPI with conversational AI capabilities. This will allow users to make UPI payments using voice commands, without having to type anything.
The feature, dubbed “Hello! UPI”, will be available in Hindi and English at launch, with support for other regional languages to be added later. It will work with UPI apps such as PhonePe, Google Pay, and PayTM, as well as IoT devices and telecom calls.
To use Hello! UPI, users will simply need to say something like “Pay Rs. 100 to John Doe” or “Pay my electricity bill”. The AI-powered system will then understand the command and complete the payment.
NPCI says that Hello! UPI will make it easier for people to make payments, especially those who are not comfortable typing or using smartphones. It will also be helpful for people with disabilities.
The feature is expected to be rolled out in the coming months.
In addition to Hello! UPI, NPCI has also announced a new number called “BillPay Connect”. This number can be used to pay bills and receive payment reports by sending a simple “Hi”. Users can also make missed calls to the number to pay bills without having to use a smartphone.
These new features are part of NPCI’s efforts to make UPI more accessible and user-friendly. With Hello! UPI and BillPay Connect, UPI is becoming a more convenient and inclusive way to make payments.
Benefits of using Hello! UPI:
- It is more convenient than typing out payment details.
- It is easier for people with disabilities to use.
- It can be used with IoT devices and telecom calls.
- It is available in Hindi and English, with support for other regional languages to be added later.
Here are some of the limitations of Hello! UPI:
- It is still in development, so there may be some bugs or glitches.
- It may not be as accurate as typing out payment details.
- It may not be available in all regions.
Overall, Hello! UPI is a promising new feature that has the potential to make UPI more convenient and accessible for everyone.
Experts Welcome Hello! UPI, But Raise Privacy Concerns
Experts have welcomed the introduction of Hello! UPI, but have raised concerns about the potential privacy implications of the feature.
Amit Agarwal, co-founder of security firm Appin, said that Hello! UPI could pose a security risk if users are not careful about what they say.
“If you are not careful, you could end up revealing your UPI PIN or other sensitive information,” he said. “It is important to be aware of the risks and to take steps to protect your privacy.”
Atul Pandey, a privacy expert, said that Hello! UPI should only be used for small transactions.
“I would not recommend using Hello! UPI for large transactions,” he said. “The risk of your data being compromised is too high.”
NPCI has said that it has taken steps to protect user privacy, such as using encryption and storing data in secure servers. However, experts say that users should still be vigilant about their privacy when using Hello! UPI.
Despite the privacy concerns, experts say that Hello! UPI is a step in the right direction. It will make it easier for people to make payments, especially those who are not comfortable typing or using smartphones.
“Hello! UPI is a welcome addition to the UPI ecosystem,” said Agarwal. “It will make payments more convenient and accessible for everyone.”