Northern bus services test AI assistantBy Tung Kuan-yi and Shelley Shan / Staff reportersTransportation officials in Taipei and New Taipei City are testing whether artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to answer people’s questions about bus services. The two cities in August last year launched a one-week trial using an AI chatbot, dubbed “Bus Station Master Ah-Ming (公車站長阿明),” at Taipei City Bus Hall Station, Banciao Bus Station, Taipei Railway Station and Tamsui MRT Station to answer frequently asked questions from bus passengers. The Taipei and New Taipei City “Bus Stationmaster Ah-Ming” system is introduced at a news conference in Taipei on Aug. 11 last year. The 20 bus stops were chosen as they are locations where bus drivers are often asked questions. In New Taipei City, the locations include Tamsui MRT Station (southbound), Luzhou MRT Station (northbound), Fu Jen University MRT Station (westbound), Yongning MRT Station (northbound), Qizhang MRT Station (northbound), Banciao Bus Station (Platform 1, northbound), Linkou Transit Center (Platform 1, northbound), Civic Plaza (eastbound), En Chu Kong Hospital (westbound) and Xizhi (eastbound).
