Safaricom’s AI Pay feature is now live in the M-PESA app, allowing users to scan receipts instead of manually entering Till or PayBill numbers. The tool, embedded within My OneApp, interprets both printed and handwritten receipts to auto-fill payment details, cutting down on errors and accelerating transactions. With over 7 million downloads, My OneApp now includes AI Pay as its latest utility.
Customers initiate the process by uploading receipt images to the app. The system then extracts the Till or PayBill number and the payment amount, populating the transaction fields automatically. James Maitai, Safaricom’s Group Chief Technology Officer, clarified that the technology analyzes receipts, extracts key information, and calculates the payment value. Final authorization still requires users to input their M-PESA PIN or use biometric verification, ensuring they retain control over each transaction.
The feature prioritizes handwritten receipts, which remain widespread in Kenya’s small business sector. Many merchants still rely on scribbled notes rather than formal invoices, making this capability particularly valuable. While the system performs best with legible receipts, unclear or incomplete details may still necessitate manual correction. This adaptability reflects the informal nature of many local transactions, where standardized documentation is often absent.
For end users, the primary advantage is efficiency. Manually typing a Till or PayBill number and amount may take only a few seconds, but those seconds accumulate during frequent payments—especially in busy queues. The tool also minimizes errors, as mistyped digits can redirect funds to incorrect accounts. The mandatory PIN or fingerprint confirmation provides a final safeguard before completion.
Beyond convenience, AI Pay aligns with existing business practices without imposing new requirements on merchants. It accommodates traders who continue using handwritten receipts, ensuring the feature remains practical for everyday shoppers.
READ: Safaricom and Pesapal Expand Digital Payments With Scan to Pay and Tap to Pay
The real test will come in everyday conditions, with messy handwriting, crowded receipts, and dim shop lighting, which is where a scanner either earns its place on the home screen or sends people back to typing by hand.
Safaricom has been advancing AI-driven payment solutions for some time, and this update represents another integration into its ecosystem. The company’s existing user base of 7 million My OneApp downloads provides a ready audience for the new tool, reducing the need for users to adopt separate applications.
