A new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered bus information service for Taipei and New Taipei City launched on Monday, enabling users to obtain bus-related information by asking questions in English or Chinese.
The “Taipei-New Taipei AI Bus Stationmaster Ah-Ming” system is available at Taipei Main Station, Taipei City Hall Bus Station, Banciao Bus Station and Tamsui MRT Station, and operates until Sunday.
At the launch event at Taipei City Hall Bus Station, Taipei Department of Transportation Commissioner Hsieh Ming-hong (謝銘鴻) and New Taipei City Transportation Department Commissioner Chung Ming-shih (鍾鳴時) demonstrated how passengers can request directions and receive real-time details on transportation options and arrival times.
Photo: CNA
During the public demonstration, an international visitor asked in English how to get to Yangmingshan (陽明山), a mountain in northern Taiwan. The system responded by asking which specific location in Yangmingshan they intended to visit, before displaying several suggested destinations on the screen.
After the tourist selected Yangmingshan National Park, it showed which bus to board and where, as well as the estimated arrival time.
Lee Cho-lun (李卓倫), deputy general manager of AsiaTEK Inc, which developed the system, said the company surveyed 3,000 bus drivers to identify the most frequently asked questions, and used the findings to build its database.
The “Taipei-New Taipei AI Bus Stationmaster Ah-Ming” platform is still in training, and would be available daily from 3pm to 6pm through Sunday, he said.
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