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A new web-based AI assistant will help keep graffiti artists, illegal dumpers, roaming dogs and noisy party people in check, Auckland Council expects.
Known as Ask Auckland Council, the assistant will address a known source of frustration for Aucklanders – reporting problems, starting with some of the most common. Mayor Wayne Brown says it’s important for council to stay up to speed with such digital tools.
“It’s about using technology to make life easier for people and meet demand for simple, convenient ways to engage with council,” he says. “AI assistants get better the more information they receive, so Aucklanders can help us make it better for them just by using it.”
More than a simple chatbot, the AI assistant can ask follow-up questions, check it has the facts correct and even analyse uploaded photos.
Live since April 13, Ask Auckland Council can be accessed on any device to report a range of issues including missed bin collections. It also tells users how to report other problems.
Auckland deputy mayor Desley Simpson says the launch marks the culmination of work she initiated with the mayor.
“Seeing the idea now brought to life – and working so well for real users – is incredibly pleasing,” she says.
“We built this virtual assistant with Aucklanders, for Aucklanders. People told us the old reporting tools were frustrating and confusing. We listened and worked hard to deliver an AI solution that’s more intuitive, easier and quicker to use, and safe and secure.”
Ask Auckland Council has been designed to comply with privacy, legal and security standards. It has built-in checks and balances to ensure accuracy, and guardrails to prevent inappropriate comments and behaviour and spot false information.
“It’s also simple to access through the website, and you can save it as a web app so it’s right there on your phone whenever you need it. We encourage Aucklanders to add it to their home screen and make it part of their everyday toolkit,” Simpson says.
“Depending on how Aucklanders like using this technology, it could eventually serve as an AI-powered ‘single front door’ to Auckland Council for services and information – the ‘one stop shop’ that people have been asking for.”
A link to the tool is located on the Report a problem page on the Auckland Council website.
