New Delhi March 21 (IANS) Accenture Labs in collaboration with the non-profit Grameen Foundation has developed two artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR)-based applications that can boost rural women s access to financial services.
The apps -- Emotional Analytics for Social Enterprises (EASE) and Grameen Guru -- will be rolled out by Grameen Foundation India across 300 villages in the states of Maharashtra and Odisha Accenture Labs said in a statement on Wednesday.
Leveraging AI and AR-based technologies the applications will help users better understand financial products and services enabling them to make informed choices that positively impact their financial and social well-being.
"This is a tremendous example of how technology can help bridge the vast cultural and educational divide in places like India having a real impact on the way people work and live " said Sanjay Podder Managing Director Accenture Labs India.
EASE is an AI-based web and mobile app that helps microfinance advisors gain real-time insights into the emotional and cognitive status of their clients based on video and audio inputs.
Helping to improve cross-cultural communication the tool provides deeper insights on precisely what topics or key words attract attention or cause clients to disengage.
On the other hand Grameen Guru is a smartphone-based multilingual chatbot that leverages AR technology to help clients who cannot read and understand written material.
Using the app a user can hold their phone over a brochure that details available financing options for example and the Guru virtual assistant will pop up and prompt a conversation in the local language to explain the material.
"Barriers -- ranging from illiteracy to a lack of bank branches in rural areas coupled with a lack of confidence and access to information -- hinder adoption for millions of low-income women in India " said Prabhat Labh CEO Grameen Foundation India.
The use of these new technologies will enable effective economic empowerment of women he noted.
--IANS
rt/qd/bg
