Taipei and New Taipei recently ran a public trial of an AI-powered bus
information service, “Taipei–New Taipei AI Bus Stationmaster Ah-Ming,” at
four hubs: Taipei Main Station, Taipei City Hall Bus Station, Banqiao Bus
Station, and Tamsui MRT Station.
The kiosks accepted English and Mandarin voice queries, suggested specific
destinations when requests were vague, and displayed bus numbers,
boarding points, and estimated arrival times. In one demo, a traveler asking
how to reach Yangmingshan was guided through destination options before
receiving a route.
Developed by AsiaTEK, the system’s database draws on a survey of 3,000 bus
drivers. Officials said the platform remains in training, with improvements
planned to voice recognition, device compatibility, and answer accuracy
based on user feedback. The pilot has concluded, and results are being
reviewed for potential wider deployment.
