New service: Artificial intelligence answers citizens' questions

Bocholt residents can now use a new online service: There is now a chatbot on the city's website that can answer questions on city topics.

The city of Bocholt is now offering a new digital service: On the city's website at www.bocholt.de, an AI-supported chatbot answers questions about citizen services, tourism and events. In addition to the usual search function, this gives users another way to find information quickly.

The chatbot draws on the existing content of bocholt.de and uses so-called Large Language Models (LLMs) to answer citizens' enquiries automatically. Whether it's about municipal services or information about the next funfair, the chatbot responds immediately and around the clock to citizens' concerns. It can answer questions from citizens in dialogue - and in more than 15 languages.

By introducing this innovative service, the city of Bocholt is emphasising its claim to offer citizen-friendly and modern solutions. The chatbot is intended to help further improve accessibility to municipal information and at the same time relieve the burden on municipal service staff.

"With our chatbot, we are creating a modern service that combines proximity to citizens and digital innovation", says Bocholt's mayor Thomas Kerkhoff and emphasises: "The service helps to make information easily accessible and strengthens Bocholt as a modern, service-oriented city."

Information from Bocholt.de as a basis

The chatbot primarily uses information from Bocholt.de to answer enquiries. Information on events and citizen services is constantly updated there.

The chatbot can be accessed via the Bocholt.de city website or directly via www.bocholt.de/chatbot.