Craft Silicon pioneers voice-based AI chatbot for financial services
Kenyan fintech firm Craft Silicon has launched a voice-activated generative AI chatbot named “Small Talk”, aimed at improving access to financial services through mobile banking applications.
“Small Talk” is designed to integrate with core banking systems and allow users to access financial information—such as account balances, savings tips, and transaction support—by speaking in English or local languages. The platform is currently undergoing pilot testing with selected financial institutions.
The solution was unveiled at the 2025 SACCO Summit in Nairobi.
Craft Silicon CEO Kamal Budhabhatti said the tool adopts a voice-first approach to reduce reliance on text-based interfaces and training for digital tools.
“Our forecast indicates future interaction with technology is going to be through voice,” he said, noting that voice-based systems may lower user barriers, especially in regions with limited literacy or digital familiarity.
The chatbot also supports real-time responses and connects directly to banking systems, positioning it as a local alternative to global AI models such as ChatGPT, Grok, and Meta’s LLaMA.
The announcement was made during the SACCO Summit 2025, which brought together over 700 cooperative sector executives from across East Africa to explore innovations in financial inclusion and digital service delivery.
