The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs yesterday launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent named “Damion” with whom consumers can communicate via the Commission’s WhatsApp number 625-0557 on a 24-hour basis to source consumer protection information.
The launch was in observance of World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) and was part of a mini expo.
In a statement, the CCAC said that the launch of the AI agent was quite appropriate since this year’s WCRD theme is “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers”.
Speaking at the launch, Eldon Marks, CEO of the technology firm V75 Inc. and developer of the AI agent said that, “Damion’s” real utility is that it absorbs large amounts of data specific to the local demographic and serves as a “central source of truth”.
“It breaks down barriers to access to information and represents taking his body of knowledge to empower consumers”, Marks said at the launch.
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond was among the first to interact with the AI agent Damion during the pop-up expo.
“The government is already examining policy and legislative measures that will enable Guyanese to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence for collective benefit while maintaining appropriate safeguards to our rights”, Walrond said in her WCRD message.
Damion is the second AI agent launched for a government entity.
