Hackathon

Innovative Solutions Emerge from BZK and VWS Hackathon for Enhanced Citizen-Government Interaction

This month, we participated in a thought-provoking hackathon organized by the ministries of BZK and VWS, focused on improving citizen-government interaction. Integrating cutting-edge design and data science methods, the challenge was to collect, process, and analyze substantial amounts of citizen feedback. A key question emerged: could AI, such as a ChatGPT-like tool, directly respond to citizen feedback and provide personalized recommendations?

Government-provided data, including user behavior on Rijksoverheid.nl, Google Keyword searches, and interactions with the government’s contact center, fueled the solutions. The hackathon underscored the vital role of design and data science in shaping the future of citizen-government interaction.

As a participant, we feel excited about the potential of the solutions developed and look forward to their practical implementation. Our group devised a tool using the ChatGPT API, enabling users to ask questions on the website. The LLM (Large Language Modelling) searches for and provides information based on the query, focusing exclusively on content available on rijksoverheid.nl. The Hackathon not only showcased creativity and innovation but also highlighted the crucial role of design and data science in crafting a more effective and responsive government.