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Just Speak and Get Bus Info: Seoul's First Conversational AI Voice-Recognition Bus Stop Debuts at Cheongnyangni

Robotics1 min read

Seoul's first bus stop that you can talk to has opened at the Cheongnyangni station bus transfer center in Dongdaemun-gu. A company called BICNS is testing an AI voice system there, where riders ask questions out loud and get answers by voice and on screen.

What happened

On the 22nd, BICNS installed an AI voice kiosk at the Cheongnyangni Station bus transfer center and began a real-world test. Riders can ask a question the way they would talk to a friend, such as "When does the bus to City Hall come?" The AI then tells them when the bus arrives, the fastest route, and transfer information. It also shares nearby places like subway stations, convenience stores, pharmacies, and tourist spots.

Key facts

  • The kiosk supports 12 languages, including Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese.
  • Bus stops can be very noisy, with traffic noise over 80 dB, which makes voice recognition hard.
  • The system uses "noise-canceling beamforming," which reduces background noise and focuses on the speaker's voice.
  • The test is the first step of a deal BICNS signed with Dongdaemun-gu in January.

Why voice helps

Many older adults, people with disabilities, and foreign visitors find phone apps and touch screens hard to use. A voice kiosk lets anyone get bus information just by speaking. BICNS says its voice technology was built in Korea using 27 years of data and AI work.

Why it matters

This shows how AI can make city life easier for people who are often left out of digital services. If the test works, the company plans to add more bus stops in Dongdaemun-gu, then traditional markets, community centers, and welfare centers. The CEO hopes to bring the technology to other cities and industries.

What to watch

  • How accurately the kiosk understands speech at real bus stops.
  • How satisfied users are with the service during the test.
  • Whether the kiosk expands to more bus stops in Dongdaemun-gu.
  • Whether other local governments in Korea adopt the system.

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