By YOSHITO ASAKURA/ Staff Writer
February 17, 2022 at 07:00 JST
OSAKA--Aya Koishikawa is on hand at Hankyu Corp.’s Osaka Umeda Station here to answer questions from passengers about train schedules.
No matter what the query is, whether it be if a particular train is running on time or how to transfer from one line to another, the virtual assistant always has a ready answer on the screen of an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered information system.
The railway operator installed the system as a demonstration experiment and is calling on the public to make use of the service to improve its accuracy.
The speech interaction system is contactless-enabled as a precaution against the raging novel coronavirus.
When a user brings their fingers close to the screen or talks to Koishikawa, she responds in a gentle voice to provide information on train operations, transfers and in the station building.
The AI character also provides guidance on the complicated layout of neighborhoods around the station, as well as tips on shops and other establishments.
The system is installed outside the central ticket gate on the second floor and outside the ticket gate on the third floor, both on the east side of the concourse.
It can serve customers in Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean, and also recognizes the Kansai accent, according to the company.
The trial run got started in July last year. But due to the COVID-19 state of emergency and other reasons, it has been extended until the end of March to collect more data on the nature and trends of inquiries to improve its speech recognition and answering ability.
A large panel of Koishikawa was attached to the side of the information system on Jan. 12 to promote use of the service.
A Hankyu representative, as well as Koishikawa, said they hope as many people as possible will make use of the service.
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Virtual assistant Aya Koishikawa appears on the screen of the AI-powered information system at Hankyu Corp.’s Osaka Umeda Station in Osaka (Yoshito Asakura)
