Nagoya launces a 24-Hour AI Assistant for foreign residents

I was browsing press releases for work and stumbled across one that I think would definitely interest foreigners living in Nagoya!

Nagoya's Naka Ward has launched a trial of a multilingual AI concierge designed to help foreign residents navigate everyday life in Japan. Best of all, it's available around the clock, which is particularly handy if you have a question outside normal office hours.

The service, which began on November 2nd, can answer questions in 57 languages, including English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali, and Filipino. It covers a bunch of practical topics such as rubbish disposal, disaster preparedness, medical care, childcare, and administrative procedures. While I have a handle on most of those things now, I definitely think when I was new to life in Japan it would have been a lifesaver!

One of the best things is that you don't need to download an app. Users can simply access the service through a QR code or dedicated website and ask questions in their preferred language.

Another cool point about it is that the AI draws its answers from Nagoya's official Living Guide, rather than searching the wider internet. This is intended to keep the information relevant and reduce the risk of inaccurate responses.

The trial runs until March 31st, 2027, and is open to foreign residents, workers, and students in Naka Ward. You can find more info about it here if you'd like to learn more!