Small Talk: Kenyan Tech Firm to Launch Voice-Powered AI Financial Assistance in Local Languages
- Craft Silicon plans to launch "Small Talk", an AI assistant designed to revolutionise banking services and customer interactions
- The AI assistant, which is in the pilot phase, supports local languages and connects to core banking systems
- Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Kamal Budhabhatti, CEO of Craft Silicon Group, said that "Small Talk" puts Kenya on the global AI innovation map
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Wycliffe Musalia has over six years of experience in financial, business, technology, climate, and health reporting, providing deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends. He currently works as a business editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is taking space in the banking sector as financial institutions embrace the trend.
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In Kenya, Craft Silicon is leading the front with Small Talk AI innovation, aimed at revolutionising local banking services.
Why Small Talk AI?
Speaking during the SACCO Summit 2025 attended by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, July 10, Craft Silicon CEO Kamal Budhabhatti said "Small Talk" puts Kenya on the global AI innovation map.
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Budhabhatti explained that through Small Talk, financial institutions will cut costs related to technology training.
"We foresee that future interaction with technology is going to be through voice. Once you start interacting with technology through voice, you automatically knock down costs such as training, which was common with traditional technology, especially for new products," said Budhabhatti .
Made in Kenya, Small Talk will be a direct competitor to global giants such as ChatGPT, Elon Musk's Grok and Meta's Llama.
Features of Small Talk AI
The AI assistant is designed to integrate with banks' core systems and address users through voice commands in both English and local languages.
Budhabhatti emphasised the platforms clear voice-first approach, unlike many existing AI chatbots that rely on text-based queries.
Small Talk aims to mimic natural human conversation, a move that Budhabhatti believes represents the future of human-technology interaction.
Currently under pilot with selected financial institutions, Small Talk will allow users to simply speak their financial questions into their mobile banking apps, once rolled out.
How Small Talk AI works
The AI will then provide real-time answers on topics such as account balances, savings tips and other personal finance questions.
The company is characterised by its deep understanding of local languages and real-time connection to core banking systems.
Craft Silicon has a proven track record of localising global innovation. The company founded Little Limited, which launched Little Cab in 2016.
This digital taxi service successfully competed with international providers such as Uber by focusing on business customers, offering a "lady bug" option with female drivers for safety and even a USSD option for non-smartphone users.
The SACCO Summit 2025, which was organised under the motto "Insight. Innovation. Connection," provided a dynamic platform for more than 700 leaders from across East Africa to explore digital transformation strategies and innovative tools for financial inclusion.
Craft Silicon showcased other ground-breaking platforms tailored for SACCOs, including Spotit, MySalary and BR.Net Islamic, underlining its commitment to empowering co-operatives through technology.
"We held the summit to bring together the brightest minds in the SACCO movement and empower them with the tools, insights, and inspiration they need to drive real change," noted Budhabhatti.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
