ATHENS – You can’t escape Artificial Intelligence and Greek banks are now using AI to interact with customers and accelerate transactions, further getting away from tellers and brick-and-mortar style operations.

“Using AI technologies in the banking system has led to significant changes and improvements… in fields such as security and fraud prevention, risk management and automatization of procedures,” Nikos Christodoulou, head of consulting services at the auditing firm Deloitte told Kathimerini.

AI is being used to open accounts, provide virtual assistants and simplify small loan grants with Robo consultants giving budgeting assistance tailored to individual customers and can detect suspicious transactions and warns customers.

It’s expected to be used more over the next five years, especially in loan management and personal advice to clients although it wasn’t said what the response has been, especially with long negative reaction to automated phone help.

There’s also said to be anxiety about AI algorithms and customer trust in working with something that’s not human and whether there will be discrimination in how loans are approved as well as workers fearful of losing their jobs as well as the risk of cyberattacks and hacking.