Mumbai: SBI Mutual Fund has launched an AI-based chatbot, SmartAssist, on WhatsApp to help users navigate mutual fund investments and services through a conversational interface. This marks the fund house’s latest attempt to integrate automation and AI for improving investor engagement and operational efficiency.
The SmartAssist tool uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to answer investor queries, facilitate transactions, and provide portfolio information directly via WhatsApp. According to the company, the chatbot aims to reduce user friction in navigating websites and documents by enabling simplified, chat-based access to services.
The tool currently supports English and will soon expand to regional languages. The company stated that the expansion is aimed at improving financial access in semi-urban and rural areas, where WhatsApp usage remains high but digital investing is still limited.
SmartAssist is available 24/7 and is designed to function as a self-service tool for activities such as starting SIPs, tracking portfolios, and accessing fund-related information. By integrating the service within WhatsApp, SBI Mutual Fund is leveraging a platform used by over 800 million Indians.
“Technology should simplify and bring efficiency. SmartAssist is a step in that direction,” said Nand Kishore, MD & CEO, SBI Mutual Fund, while explaining the company’s ongoing push for AI-enabled solutions.
The tool is part of SBI Mutual Fund’s broader strategy to digitize investor services and reduce operational dependencies. It reflects a wider industry trend where financial institutions are increasingly turning to AI to manage high-volume queries and enhance user experience with minimal manual intervention.
SBI Funds Management Limited (SBIFM), the asset management arm of SBI Mutual Fund, currently manages assets worth over Rs 12 lakh crore as of June 27, 2025. The company has stated that SmartAssist will continue to evolve as it learns from real-time user interactions. The chatbot can be activated by sending “Hi” to 98336 57657 on WhatsApp.
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