“This feature allows PhonePe users to initiate and complete in-app tasks via natural language text or voice commands, increasing convenience and personalizing the overall experience of the platform,” PhonePe said in a statement.
The feature replaces traditional menu-based navigation with intent-based routing, allowing users to perform in-app tasks conversationally. For example, commands like “Pay Hemanth 20 rupees” automatically open the payment interface with the intended recipient pre-selected or display relevant contacts. Requests such as “FASTag Recharge” or “Gold Price” direct users to the appropriate service or information page within the app.
The company said the tool goes beyond basic navigation by interpreting the user’s intent – whether it’s making a payment, completing a purchase or seeking support. It uses a hybrid model that combines on-device and cloud inference and ensures that no personal or transactional data leaves the PhonePe environment.
Rahul Chari, founder, full-time director and CTO of PhonePe, said the launch marks a shift from payment apps that are purely transactional tools to more intelligent, user-centric platforms.
“For years, payment apps have been built as utilitarian tools, optimized for transactions and not people. This launch is the first step in changing that. Our vision is to make payments accessible to every Indian, and AI allows us to build an intelligent interface that anticipates what users need before they even look for it.”
“Through our partnership with Microsoft, we want to further simplify payments by understanding the intent, not just the input. And we believe that intelligence at the edge is the future and the most thoughtful way to deliver real value without sacrificing privacy or security,” he said.
Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia at Microsoft, said the partnership reflects the growing adoption of natural language interfaces in India. He noted that Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities to help build secure, scalable and human-centric digital experiences.
“As more Indians embrace natural language when interacting with digital services, PhonePe’s new AI-powered experience is a strong step towards more intuitive and accessible digital payments. Microsoft Foundry provides the underlying capabilities that enable innovators like PhonePe to build secure, scalable, and human-centric products for millions of people. We want to power India’s digital ecosystem with trusted AI that enables organizations to deliver simpler and more meaningful customer experiences.” The feature is being rolled out across India in phases and can be accessed via the app’s global search bar, Help Center and History tab.
Founded in 2016, PhonePe Limited is a digital payments and financial services platform headquartered in India. As of September 30, 2025, it had over 65 crore registered users and a merchant adoption network spanning over 4.7 crore points of sale.
Published on February 21, 2026
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