Swiss bank UBS develops digital clone of its top economist

A digital clone could cut costs and still provide personalised service

Spotted: Swiss banking giant UBS is developing a digital replica of its top economist, Daniel Kalt. The idea is that “Daniel Kalt” is still there to help even when the actual lead economist is away from the office. The digital double attends meetings on a screen, and is programmed to interact with clients via voice and make eye contact at meetings. “He” can wink and smile, and is very adaptable. Sensors might see a client isn’t wearing a tie, and “Daniel” would automatically remove his to build rapport.

The avatar is designed for the bank’s wealth management clients. He is supposed to answer questions about markets and be knowledgeable about the current outlook for investors. At the moment, ‘Daniel Kalt’ only speaks German. Eventually “he” could answer questions in any language.

“Daniel Kalt” is still a prototype. UBS worked with FaceMe and IBM on the project. There is also a digital assistant for simple transactions named Fin. It is unclear when “Daniel Kalt” will be available for clients.