The City of Kelowna could be the first municipality in B.C. to use artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite housing permit approvals, according to staff.
Ryan Smith, director of planning and development services for the Central Okanagan municipality, says the city used a $350,000 grant it received from the provincial Local Government Development Approvals Program to work with Microsoft in developing an AI chatbot that automates permit applications and answers applicants’ questions about the city’s zoning bylaws and official community plan.
Smith expects the automation system, which is set to be launched this fall, to save lots of time for frontline city staff.
“Twenty years ago, I was a young guy working at the front counter
→ Continue reading at CBC News