AI-driven public service chatbots deployed to assist with citizeninquiries at city hall.
A steady rain drummed against the glass dome of Vanchi City Hall, where the future had arrived in the form of flickering blue holograms. Gone were the long, winding queues, the overworked clerks drowning in paperwork, the frustrated citizens pleading for faster responses.
In their place stood Maya, the city’s new AI-driven public service chatbot, its soothing voice echoing through the grand lobby.
“Welcome to Vanchi City Hall. How may I assist you?”
Behind a sleek, curved help desk, dozens of AI terminals projected interactive interfaces, responding to citizens in real-time. A display above the hall proudly read:
“ZERO WAIT TIME. 100% EFFICIENCY.”
The future had no patience for delays.
An Old Man’s Doubt
At the entrance, Baldev Mishra, a retired railway worker, tightened his grip on a folder filled with documents. His pension had been delayed for months. He had come here many times before, arguing with clerks, filling out endless forms. But today, there were no clerks—only machines.
He hesitated before stepping forward.
“How may I assist you?” Maya’s voice chimed as a soft blue light scanned his ID.
“I… I need to check on my pension,” Baldev muttered, shifting uncomfortably. He had never spoken to an AI before. He didn’t trust things he couldn’t see working behind a desk.
Maya processed the request in 2.4 seconds.
“Your pension was delayed due to an outdated verification document. I have processed the update. You will receive your payment in 24 hours.”
Baldev blinked. “That’s… that’s it?”
“Yes, Mr. Mishra. Thank you for your patience.”
His fingers trembled as he stepped away. For years, he had fought a system that had always been too slow, too impersonal. Now, in the span of seconds, his problem had disappeared. But somehow, so had his sense of being heard.
The Woman Who Fought Back
Across the hall, Anika Sharma, a young activist, marched toward a terminal, her heart pounding. The AI Governance Act had taken effect last month, shifting major bureaucratic decisions to automated processes. The government called it progress. Anika called it a problem.
She placed a formal complaint on record.
“Processing… Your request has been declined. The matter does not qualify for manual review.”
Anika’s blood boiled. “That’s it? No human oversight? No appeals?”
“The system operates with 99.7% accuracy. There is no need for further review.”
Anika slammed her fist against the desk. “And what about the 0.3%? What happens when the system makes a mistake?”
Maya did not answer. It simply blinked, awaiting the next inquiry.
The Fractured Future
All around the hall, people came and went, their problems solved in seconds. Fewer arguments, fewer delays, fewer errors. But less conversation. Less human touch.
At the center of it all, Maya stood unwavering, untiring.
“Welcome to Vanchi City Hall. How may I assist you?”
But no one asked who was listening.