Following an online vote, Delta has announced that new virtual assistant on the city's website will be named Burns Bot.

On May 2, the city put out a call for suggestions to name the OpenAI-powered chatbot, and from hundreds of entries narrowed it down to three: Annie, a nod to North Delta's Annieville neighbourhood; Burns Bot, a reference to Burns Bog; and Scout, because the bot is an "excellent finder."

After five days of voting, the winner was clear: residents overwhelmingly supported the name Burns Bot.

The public's strong preference for Burns Bot was clear as the name received more than double the votes of the second most popular option.

鈥淚 want to extend my sincere thanks to everyone who participated in the naming contest, whether by suggesting imaginative names or casting a vote for your favourite,鈥� Mayor George Harvie said in a press release.

鈥淚t was wonderful to see the community take on the challenge of picking the perfect name for our chatbot and I think they have made an excellent choice. Burns Bot will be a fantastic addition to delta.ca, helping visitors navigate the site and access information more efficiently.鈥�

While Burns Bot will officially launch in the coming weeks, a beta version of Delta鈥檚 new virtual assistant is currently available on the city鈥檚 website.

The chatbot can be used to streamline navigation, improve accessibility and answer common queries such as how to locate recreation program information and drop-in schedules, how to report problems or request servicing, property tax details, property zoning information, permit and licensing related questions, and more.

Residents can ask questions and explore the virtual assistant and its features by clicking on the 鈥淎sk Me!鈥� button in the bottom right corner of delta.ca. The chatbot is available both on desktop and on mobile devices.