Business

AI powered Chatbots as personal financial advisors: Interview with Avi Ben Ezra of SnatchBot

Published

5 years ago

May 5, 2019

We live in a time where there are tremendous technological advancements. Although people have come to expect extraordinary things there still is lack of awareness as far as chatbots are concerned.

ChatBots are simply artificial intelligence entities which are running on a software program. They can be integrated into messaging apps where they can effectively perform a variety of tasks. They had been used extremely effectively in many industries where they have accomplished sophisticated tasks very efficiently. There is simply no reason why chatbots cannot be programmed to become personal financial advisors. Such a chatbot can be easily programmed to keep track of all our little daily expenses. They can issue warnings which can prevent us from overspending. There can be no doubt that there are many individuals who can benefit from this technology.

One of the companies which have already been looking at some of these possibilities is Fintech. According to Ben Ezra the CTO of SnatchBot it has been emphatically proven that a chatbot can be programmed to accomplish just about anything you can imagine. This is why it is entirely possible for financial service organizations to create something like a personal financial advisor which will be able to assist people with investments, with budgeting and with more effective spending of available finances.

What exactly could people expect to see in the nearby future?

People have already seen for themselves the tremendous impact which the Internet had on our planet in the last couple of decades. Therefore, there is justification when people think that when it comes to artificial intelligence, there are very few limits. There are very large financial institutions today that have all of the necessary resources to create very sophisticated chatbots who could literally transform the way in which people handle their finances. There will be benefits both for financial institutions and also for individuals. The cost savings for financial institutions could be substantial. Furthermore, the use of artificial intelligence will help to eliminate unnecessary human errors. Ben Ezra is particularly excited about the convenience which customers will experience. Chatbots will make it possible to effectively manage several accounts at once. It will also be entirely possible to have frequent feedback regarding the state of certain accounts and many other things.

It will be just as good as having a bank in your home or in your pocket. It is possible to conduct a whole range of automated transactions and to do frequent payments. All of this can be accomplished by making use of your chatbot and you won’t even need additional apps. People today have become spoiled by technology and therefore they have high expectations. New technologies have barely been implemented when consumers have new demands. They want more secure solutions, personalized transactions, greater speed and a higher level of consumer convenience. All of this can become possible when people are provided with a personal virtual assistant. Such an assistant will immediately respond to every message whereafter it will instantly access any customer data as well as information on a whole range of financial products.

What other surprises does artificial intelligence have in store for people?

There is a company by the name of Gartner’s who has done extensive research. The acquired data indicate that within the next year or two almost 90% of consumer interaction with their company will be accomplished without human assistance. Ben Ezra is urgently encouraging all business owners to immediately look at the tremendous benefits which can be derived from the implementation of chatbots. Just imagine having a personal financial advisor on your smartphone or on your PC which can provide you with accurate and current advice which can help you to invest your finances where the best return on investment can be guaranteed. Your personal financial advisor can also provide you with all of the information which you may require when it becomes necessary to obtain a new motor vehicle. Just imagine how much frustration can be avoided when you have a professional in your corner that can help you to organize your life and your finances. Financial experts working at large financial institutions acquire a higher level of language usage which can confuse the layman and to interact with them can be intimidating. However, now it is possible to have your own personal financial advisor who will have the ability to simplify the terminology used in finances and to translate all that complicated it terms into layman’s language.

Will there be any other benefits?

It is entirely possible to develop a chatbot that can help you analyze your finances in order to help you determine where you can cut back on expenses. One such chatbot is already operating very effectively and this AI entity is known as Trim. This is specifically a chatbot for finances that can assist the individual with a whole range of tasks. This financial chatbot can check bank balances, manage other expenses such as subscriptions and can even assist the individual in the setting up of a spending alert so that the user knows when critical levels have been reached. Such a financial chatbot is completely at home on the Facebook messenger, SMS messenger, and many similar applications. According to statistics, the chatbot Trim has been instrumental in helping a large number of users save more than $6 million.

Conclusion

The benefits of having a personal financial advisor are just about immeasurable. So many mistakes are made because people forget. This can result in many financial problems such as additional interest and fines for late paying. However, having a chatbot as a personal financial advisor can help a person to avoid all of these frustrating human shortcomings. Because once a chatbot has been informed about anything it can never forget unless it becomes a victim of a critical system failure. But even then most reputable chatbot companies such as SnatchBot will always have backup systems in place to ensure that the consumer does not suffer any unnecessary harm. There is no reason why you should not benefit from a personal financial advisor. The technology is available and the benefits far outweigh the cost of implementation.

Suggested reading: Follow weekly news by Avi Ben Ezra or access his personal site here.

Youtube video – A vision of the future, by SnatchBot:

Business

Turning Tragedy into Triumph Through Walking With Anthony

Published

7 days ago

April 18, 2024

Rosario Farell

On the morning of February 6, 2010, Anthony Purcell took a moment to admire the churning surf before plunging into the waves off Miami Beach. Though he had made the dive numerous times before, that morning was destined to be different when he crashed into a hidden sandbar, sustaining bruises to his C5 and C6 vertebrae and breaking his neck.

“I was completely submerged and unable to rise to the surface,” Purcell recalls. “Fortunately, my cousin Bernie saw what was happening and came to my rescue. He saved my life, but things would never be the same after that dive.”

Like thousands of others who are confronted with a spinal cord injury (SCI), Purcell plunged headlong into long months of hopelessness and despair. Eventually, however, he learned to turn personal tragedy into triumph as he reached out to fellow SCI victims by launching Walking With Anthony.

Living with SCI: the first dark days

Initial rehabilitation for those with SCIs takes an average of three to six months, during which time they must relearn hundreds of fundamental skills and adjust to what feels like an entirely new body. Unfortunately, after 21 days, Purcell’s insurance stopped paying for this essential treatment, even though he had made only minimal improvement in such a short time.

“Insurance companies cover rehab costs for people with back injuries, but not for people with spinal cord injuries,” explains Purcell. “We were practically thrown to the curb. At that time, I was so immobile that I couldn’t even raise my arms to feed myself.”

Instead of giving up, Purcell’s mother chose to battle his SCI with long-term rehab. She enrolled Purcell in Project Walk, a rehabilitation facility located in Carlsbad, California, but one that came with an annual cost of over $100,000.

“My parents paid for rehabilitation treatment for over three years,” says Purcell. “Throughout that time, they taught me the importance of patience, compassion, and unconditional love.”

Yet despite his family’s support, Purcell still struggled. “Those were dark days when I couldn’t bring myself to accept the bleak prognosis ahead of me,” he says. “I faced life in a wheelchair and the never-ending struggle for healthcare access, coverage, and advocacy. I hit my share of low points, and there were times when I seriously contemplated giving up on life altogether.”

Purcell finds a new purpose in helping others with SCIs

After long months of depression and self-doubt, Purcell’s mother determined it was time for her son to find purpose beyond rehabilitation.

“My mom suggested I start Walking With Anthony to show people with spinal cord injuries that they were not alone,” Purcell remarks. “When I began to focus on other people besides myself, I realized that people all around the world with spinal cord injuries were suffering because of restrictions on coverage and healthcare access. The question that plagued me most was, ‘What about the people with spinal cord injuries who cannot afford the cost of rehabilitation?’ I had no idea how they were managing.”

Purcell and his mother knew they wanted to make a difference for other people with SCIs, starting with the creation of grants to help cover essentials like assistive technology and emergency finances. To date, they have helped over 100 SCI patients get back on their feet after suffering a similar life-altering accident.

Purcell demonstrates the power and necessity of rehab for people with SCIs

After targeted rehab, Purcell’s physical and mental health improved drastically. Today, he is able to care for himself, drive his own car, and has even returned to work.

“Thanks to my family’s financial and emotional support, I am making amazing physical improvement,” Purcell comments. “I mustered the strength to rebuild my life and even found the nerve to message Karen, a high school classmate I’d always had a thing for. We reconnected, our friendship evolved into love, and we tied the knot in 2017.”

After all that, Purcell found the drive to push toward one further personal triumph. He married but did not believe a family was in his future. Regardless of his remarkable progress, physicians told him biological children were not an option.

Despite being paralyzed from the chest down, Purcell continued to look for hope. Finally, Dr. Jesse Mills of UCLA Health’s Male Reproductive Medicine department assured Purcell and his wife that the right medical care and in vitro fertilization could make their dream of becoming parents a reality.

“Payton joined our family in the spring of 2023,” Purcell reports. “For so long, I believed my spinal cord injury had taken everything I cared about, but now I am grateful every day. I work to help other people with spinal cord injuries find the same joy and hope. We provide them with access to specialists, funding to pay for innovative treatments, and the desire to move forward with a focus on the future.”