Augusta 311 launches new chatbot for city information
AUGUSTA, Ga (WJBF)- Augusta city leaders are trying to make it easier for people to get important information. The city recently launched a new 311 Artificial Intelligence-powered chatbot called “Ask Gus.”
Augusta 311 gets more than 130,000 calls a year and “Ask Gus” is another avenue for that information.
People can go to the city’s website and in the lower corner of the screen is an “Ask Gus” icon which launches a chat window.
There is also a text option.
The chatbot allows people to get answers about city services, submit service requests or just ask the staff questions.
Kelli Walker is the 311 manager. She told NewsChannel 6 that it was time to bring the information hot line into the digital age.
“There’s an annual conference that I attend. It’s ‘311 Engage’ where it allows us to interact with other cities throughout the US, much larger than Augusta,” explained Walker. “So, I like to… remain on the cutting edge of technology. And I just knew that ‘Ask Gus’ was something that Augusta would definitely benefit and the citizens would appreciate.”
“Ask Gus” makes it even easier for people any information regarding the City of Augusta.
“So it’ll it’ll answer questions related to’ When is my trash service day?’ ‘What are regular operating hours?’ ‘How do I pay a utility bill?’ ‘How do I enter a pothole?’ And then it will also connect you to our internal system that will allow you to submit a request for city services,” Walker said.
For more information on “Ask Gus,” and other Augusta 311 technology, just go to the city’s website. To text the chatbot, text “Hello” to (866) 788-4487 (4GUS).
Photojournalist: Dania Alawir.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
