The use of AI chatbots has become a trend for government, enabling public agencies to improve communications and expand the reach of their messaging. The tools can provide inaccurate information, especially for people with disabilities; legislation can help mitigate those risks.
Palm Beach’s new chatbot, deemed “Ask Poli,” was created in partnership with Polimorphic, a provider of AI-driven tools. The company aims to use natural language search to make government information more easily understandable.
Responsible AI implementation involves human oversight. For users whose questions to Ask Poli require human support, the tool will provide contact information to the appropriate member of town staff.
The use of AI “makes public information more accessible to everyone,” according to a statement Monday from Polimorphic CEO Parth Shah, who is also co-founder.
In addition to Ask Poli, Palm Beach has launched a redesigned Public Meetings Portal, which offers a modern, user-friendly interface to access official public meeting records.
The portal launch offers the ability to quickly browse past meeting materials; soon, users will have access to historical files dating back to Palm Beach’s founding.
The new portal also allows users to receive customized notifications by email of agenda postings and meeting minutes. Residents can also directly submit their written public comments to a public meeting agenda through the portal.
