Forum: Bloobin AI chatbot helpful, but can be more inclusive, accessible

I refer to the article “Unsure if you can recycle a frying pan? Ask NEA’s new AI chatbot” (Sep 16). I find the Bloobin AI chatbot, which is conveniently accessible on messaging apps, user-friendly and effective. The replies are also generally accurate.

The weblink feature, which offers contact details of other organisations that accept items for recycling or donation, is also helpful.

Nonetheless, I think the chatbot can be further improved.

First, it could be more inclusive. Visually impaired users may struggle to read the chatbot’s replies.

I hope the chatbot can provide audio messages too, as this would help not only people with disabilities, but illiterate people as well.

Secondly, the chatbot is available only in English. My grandmother is an avid recycler who regularly uses the chatbot, but she has to forward the replies to me for translation.

Adding options for messages to be in one of Singapore’s four official languages or even commonly used dialects would make the chatbot more accessible.

Despite the chatbot’s usefulness, I also found that many of my friends and family members had not heard of it.

I hope the chatbot will be promoted further through social media advertisements to raise awareness.

To reach out to more elderly people, the National Environment Agency (NEA) could also organise workshops on recycling that introduce them to the chatbot. These could be held at community centres.

I believe increasing the accessibility and publicity of the chatbot will greatly help Singapore’s recycling rates.

Joshua Tam Kar Yih