ING Direct prepares to unleash banking chatbots on social media

Customers of ING Direct may soon be able to ask their "digital assistant" to check their bank balance, or tell a "chatbot" on Twitter to freeze a credit card that has gone missing. As banks grapple with the mobile revolution, the online bank is preparing for what some in the technology world think could be an even bigger change: the rise of artificial intelligence. By the end of this year, it expects to be capable of unleashing chatbots on Twitter, Facebook, and Google's Assistant, which is the tech giant's answer to Apple's digital assistant, Siri. While many banks are active on social media, and other Australian banks are also working with chatbots, ING says its new wave of bots are different because they will be able to talk to customers in in everyday, jargon-free language. Recently appointed chief information officer, Ani Paul, said customers would be able to ask the chatbot questions such as "How much money do I have in my account," or "Am I broke yet?"