HAWTHORNE – The city of Hawthorne on Tuesday introduced an AI-powered chatbot named Nate to help residents and visitors access city services and information online.
The chatbot is available around the clock on the city’s official website. City officials said it is designed to answer frequently asked questions and connect users with resources related to public works, permits, city programs and other services.
Nate is short for Nathaniel Hawthorne, the 19th-century author for whom the city is named.
“The launch of Nate reflects our ongoing commitment to modernizing government services and making them more accessible to everyone in our community,” IT Manager Josh Armstrong said in a statement. “This virtual assistant is another step toward improving transparency and responsiveness in local government.”
The tool, developed in partnership with civic engagement tech company Citibot, updates its database weekly by pulling information from the city’s website, officials said.
Residents can type questions directly into a chat window to receive immediate answers or be directed to the appropriate department. The service is free and does not require downloads or user registration, according to officials.
The city said it is also implementing additional technologies to support accessibility and communication, including Wordly for language translation at service counters and council meetings.
To chat with Nate, residents can visit CityofHawthorne.gov.
