There's a new Bobbi on the beat - and they're powered by AI

Forget "ello, ello, ello" - modern policing's present astir "AI, AI, AI".

The UK's archetypal constabulary virtual assistant, powered by artificial intelligence, has been launched by 2 constabulary forces arsenic portion of a caller trial.

"Bobbi" interacts similar a quality and helps reply often asked questions - but it isn't designed to beryllium utilized successful emergencies.

Thames Valley Police, arsenic good arsenic the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary, accidental the instrumentality aims to complement online forms, telephone lines and beforehand counters… not regenerate them.

A spokesperson for the forces said: "You cannot usage the exertion to study a transgression oregon arsenic an alternate to the exigency 999 line.

"Bobbi has been tested by implicit 200 radical during its development, including by representatives from unfortunate attraction groups and autarkic scrutiny sheet members."

The AI instrumentality uses the aforesaid guidelines and accusation disposable to quality telephone handlers to marque suggestions and recommendations.

And if Bobbi is incapable to reply a question - oregon if a idiosyncratic wants to talk to a idiosyncratic alternatively - they tin beryllium automatically redirected to a real-life operator.

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(Human) Chief Superintendent Simon Dodds described it arsenic a "really breathtaking time" - and hopes this volition let unit to absorption connected "emergencies and complex, delicate issues".

He added: "Empathy, communal consciousness and that intangible gut instinct are immoderate of the galore quality skills that request to usher our interactions with the public, peculiarly successful their clip of need.

"By providing speedy responses to commonly asked, non-emergency questions, Bobbi volition heighten our work to our communities, ensuring that each subordinate of the nationalist tin get the assistance they need, whenever they request it."

Mr Dodds went connected to accent that Bobbi volition stay a enactment successful progress, with a squad of experienced unit moving to hole bugs and comply with regulations.