ABU DHABI, UAE—In a development that could eventually extend to U.S.-based financial institutions, Emirates Identity Authority here is partnering with MasterCard to test the use of Google Glass at its service centers across the country.
The aim is to enable employees at the Authority’s customer service centers to verify personal identities of customers in a reliable, innovative and creative manner, according to the EIA.
“The technology is still in its pilot phase and will be further developed in collaboration with ‘MasterCard’ in order to allow more ‘smart’ services based on it,” Emirates ID added.
The Emirates Identity Authority has already piloted a robot named Hamad that speaks three languages—English, Arabic and French (and which is cable of adding another six)—that interacts with visitors. The robot helps customers providing the status of an ID card and its application, locating and directing customers to different services centers, and processing applications for Emirates ID card renewal.
“Hamad can sense the presence of a customer and starts to greet the customer when approached,” a spokesperson for the authority stated. “He knows the time of the day and greets customers accordingly. He accepts payments by credit cards and mails a receipt.”
In a somewhat foreboding announcement, the UAE government said the robot has already learned to “clone himself” and will be deployed across multiple customer centers by year-end.
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