Fujitsu Launches Finplex Robot Agent Platform, an AI-based Enterprise Chatbot Service

Fujitsu today announced the development of an AI-based enterprise chatbot⁽¹⁾ service, FUJITSU Services IT Solution Finplex Robot Agent Platform, which will be offered initially in Japan from January 2017, with plans for future availability in other markets.

The Finplex Robot Agent Platform enables support for automated product sales or customer assistance via a robot. The robot, which has knowledge gained through machine learning, offers support by conversing in a chat format with users of a messaging tool. By enabling customers to self-manage the machine learning process, which had up to now been considered a "black box" that contained machine learning that employed learning data or script development, it has become possible to have effective and efficient learning, at low cost.

This service uses the Fujitsu Human Centric AI Zinnrai⁽²⁾ artificial intelligence technology, and is currently undergoing a trial in an early deployment at Sony Bank Inc. The service is being offered to financial institutions as a Finplex⁽³⁾ financial services solution and will gradually be made available globally, with expansion over time to customers in a variety of fields beyond the financial services industry.

Background

In recent years, as a way of quickly obtaining required information from scattered data, instead of installing a specialized application for each respective service, chat-type messaging tools used on a daily basis are becoming more prevalent. With financial services, in particular, there is a growing need to obtain information through chat services given demand from the segment of users who normally use chat as a communications tool, and because up until now this industry has been slow to adopt such services due to high time and psychological hurdles. In light of these market trends, Fujitsu has now developed the Finplex Robot Agent Platform chatbot service.

Features

With the Finplex Robot Agent Platform, the set of functions needed to develop a chatbot service are provided through the FUJITSU Digital Business Platform MetaArc, Fujitsu's digital business platform.

1. Messaging function that enables chat interface

   An instant messaging feature is provided that represents the chat-style dialogue interface. Fujitsu plans to use task-oriented dialogue technology⁽⁴⁾ from Fujitsu Laboratories for this feature.

2. Thesaurus editing feature for managing training data

   A thesaurus editing feature is provided for data learned by machine that is uploaded and managed (adding, deleting, and editing). With this feature, customers themselves can freely control the level of machine learning. (Patent Pending)

3. Script editing feature for generating service scenarios

   A script editing feature is provided that enables services to be built when needed to provide through a chatbot. This feature makes it easy for customers to generate and edit service scenarios on their own, enabling the quick launch of chatbot services.

4. API Gateway for communicating with existing chatbot tools

   An API Gateway is provided that makes it easy to enable compatibility with chatbot tools provided by other companies. This makes it possible for customers to use the messenger applications they are already deploying.

Effects

By providing services that use messaging tools to financial service users, services can be used anywhere and at any time, and service providers can approach markets (customer segments) that they were not able to reach before.

In addition, in previous robot machine learning, the usual process was for engineers to analyze data provided by customers. However, with Finplex Robot Agent Platform, customers can now self-manage the machine learning process, enabling them to effectively control the robots at low cost.

Future Plans

Fujitsu will accelerate the expansion of the features of the Finplex Robot Agent Platform, link them with services from Fujitsu's insights, customers in the financial services industry, and from Fintech startup companies, and work to maximize value for customers and the financial services industry as a whole.

It is currently undergoing trial at Sony Bank Inc. to improve customer convenience.

In the future, rather than confining it to the financial services industry, Fujitsu will gradually expand the chatbot service globally and to customers in a variety of industries as a service platform for all industries and types of business.

Under the slogan, "Knowledge Integration for Big Change," Fujitsu will continue to leverage the knowledge it has accumulated with customers and partners to deliver new value to customers.

Related Links

"Fujitsu 'Finplex' to Systematize Financial Solutions and Accelerate Digital Transformation in the Financial Sector," (press release dated March 30, 2016)

"Fujitsu Takes Systematic Approach to Artificial Intelligence with 'Human Centric AI Zinrai," (press release dated November 2, 2016)

"Fujitsu Develops Task-Oriented Dialogue Technology with AI," (press release dated May 16, 2016)