Via a chatbot named Erica, Bank of America this week demo’d its upcoming mobile AI capabilities. The feature will be available to the 21 million users of its mobile app via voice or text commands “in late 2017.” While it’s unusual for a major bank to discuss technology a year away from deployment, with all the hype around artificial intelligence and chatbots, BofA must have figured it was a good PR move.

The bank did not disclose whether it was building or buying the technology, but my guess is the latter. We saw a number of Finovate demos last month in this area and expect many more in 2017.

For more info, check out the American Banker story yesterday (free access).