NEW DELHI: Over the next few weeks, you may encounter a robot at a branch of HDFC Bank as the country’s second largest private sector lender tries to match Japanese players that have launched humanoids.Taking a cue from Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, which launched a robot named Nao last year, and Mizuho Bank’s Pepper, HDFC Bank has launched ‘Project AI ’ ( artificial intelligence ) where the first product is now ready for deployment. Sources said the plan is to introduce the robot, whose name is being finalised, in one of HDFC Bank’s branches and, based on the experience, the project may be scaled up.So, where will it debut? The plan is to deploy it in one of the branches in Mumbai first, certainly one that does not deal with too many senior citizens who need personalised service.Unlike Pepper, which analyses customer behaviour and provides a variety of services, HDFC Bank’s first robot will only perform a limited role, acting largely as a receptionist.Sources said that it will greet a person entering the branch with options such as cash withdrawal or deposit, forex, fixed deposits and demat services displaying on the screen. Once the customer punches in the selection, a layout of the branch will appear on the screen with a “Take me there” option.While the initial plan may look a little basic, the bank plans to expand the menu to include voice recognition and facial recognition technologies and link it to consumer behaviour pattern. “If someone has enquired about a home loan through the website, the robot will generate the information when he visits the branch the next time and provide options,” said a source.The source added that the robot will be the first AI product from the stable, while recognising that globally too it plays a small role and in no way replaces crucial banking functions. So, if you thought that the relationship manager may be a thing of the past, the bank clearly doesn’t think so.