How OLPORTAL’s Customized Chatbots can be Better Alternatives to Centralized Models in Times of COVID-19 OLPORTAL.ai Follow Apr 20 · 3 min read

Google has launched a chatbot called the Rapid Response Virtual Agent (RRVA) Program. The program is designed to provide information related to the fighting of the Novel Coronavirus. As we know, dissemination of information in the fight against the virus is crucial, given the need to spread the messages and updates from international and national health agencies like World Health Organization and the Centre for Disease Control, USA to name a few.

This service will be available to users of the Google Cloud, which includes public and private health agencies. These entities will be able to integrate this Artificial Intelligence-driven Chatbot with their platforms so that they are able to communicate these messages better. These can also include businesses whose services are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic like travel and tourism agencies, or some cross border delivery services; basically, any business which relies heavily on international transportation and physical movement of goods and people.

Many such businesses are also understaffed within these unusual circumstances. For them, an AI chatbot that can provide information regarding the pandemic and the regulations and its effects on the operations of these businesses will come as a great respite for the management.

Google has also created systems that will allow businesses to integrate COVID related information to their existing conversational AI systems, like Verily, which partnered with Google Cloud to launch the Pathfinder AI system for Health Systems and Hospitals. This is in addition to Google’s Contact Center AI which is meant for answering COVID related questions to individuals.

The Blind-Spot

While such efforts are commendable and might be catering to a broad global pool of large scale organizations, there is a similar fight that is to be fought at a lower level both for the sake of the global economy and public health.

Many non-profit organizations and small businesses do not have access to such large service providers. But they are the worst hit by this crisis. They are in dire need of not only financial but also infrastructural support. There are also smaller health promotion bodies that are suffering, despite being on the front lines of the battle against COVID. It is essential that we provide such services to these organizations.

Moreover, the Google RRVA program, as well as the contact center, is meant for a limited range of communication. And the mode of messaging will be standardized. They do not consider the regional and socio-economic diversity in their communication, which might make it inappropriate for the use of certain groups.

OLPORTAL’s Decentralized Chatbots: The Need of the Hour?

In the case of OLPORTAL, the developers will be able to develop and exhibit such communicational chatbots dealing with COVID as part of the wide array of chatbots on the online market-place. They will be able to target very specific groups and customize their messaging according to their contexts.

Smaller businesses and other organizations will also be able to use these chatbots to communicate with their clientele during this crisis. This can also be used by non-profits. All of this also comes with greater data security, because it is based on a blockchain. It is for these reasons decentralized platforms like OLPORTAL can play a much more significant role in these times than centralized services like Google Cloud.

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