Rome launches Julia 3.0 AI assistant for municipal services

Rome has introduced Julia 3.0, an advanced artificial intelligence assistant designed to streamline access to municipal services. Presented by Mayor Roberto Gualtieri, the update transitions the platform from a purely informative tool to one capable of direct service delivery through chat and a new mobile application.

The system offers 30 different services, with a significant focus on civil registry functions. Citizens can request 16 types of certificates, including birth, residence, and citizenship documents, in as little as 30 seconds. Additionally, the AI facilitates school-related inquiries, such as checking school menus and nursery school rankings, and manages citizen reports regarding waste collection, cleaning, and cemetery services.

While Microsoft’s customer experience lead, Mauro Sagratella, described the project as having a level of sophistication ‘never seen before inside or outside of Italy,’ the implementation raises questions regarding data transparency, the reliability of automated administrative information, and the protocols for human intervention when errors occur.