Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — While many Bostonians find the process of getting a construction permit stressful and confusing, a new AI program is looking to make it less frustrating.
Boston has launched a beta search experience using AI, backed by Chief Information Officer Santiago Garces. He said that most of the issues come from people being puzzled about what exact permits they need.
“Because we have short forms, and long forms, and electrical permits. But that’s not the way that people think about what they’re trying to do. People are trying to redo their bathroom, they want to build a restaurant,” said Garces.
The technology can find several different permit-processing experiences to best fit the work someone is trying to do.
“We used AI to take 25 years' worth of history from the permits, to try to create these experiences around what the applicants were actually trying to do, that’s what gave us the number of 260,” said Garces.
Although the program is still in a beta phase, Boston officials hope the permitting process will become much easier over time. Mayor Michelle Wu made the goal for the new program clear.
“We’re reorienting our entire approach around a simple question, ‘what are you trying to do, and how can we help?’” said Mayor Wu.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.