The search function on Tampere.fi site renewed - an AI-assisted search is being trialled
The Tampere.fi website is the city's main communication channel for residents and other users of city services. The website received 5.6 million visits in 2024. User research and surveys on Tampere.fi have shown that visitors have expressed a desire for better search functionality. The search now being piloted aims to meet this need.
The new search will identify synonyms, i.e. other words with the same meaning, for the search terms used by visitors and will be able to better interpret misspelled words and words with different conjugations, helping to find more relevant results. The search will proactively offer the most popular topics to the visitor under the search field as shortcuts, before the user has even made a single search.
AI answers are based on the city's website
The most significant change to the search is the AI it incorporates. When a user performs a search in the search box, results are suggested. When the user clicks on a search result, they are redirected to a results page with a textual summary generated by the AI. The search results will still include the traditional pages found by the search in the form of a list of links.
At the bottom of the search results page, a chat-bot "Need help?" is also available, also powered by AI. You can ask the AI bot for information about the city's activities and services in a chat conversation. When responding, the AI will also provide a link to the webpage from which it has responded and where the user can find more information.
The AI will compile both the summary text on the search results page and the chat response based on the information contained in the city's websites. The AI can only respond with information published on Tampere.fi or other websites maintained by the city. The new search will work on both the English and Finnish versions of Tampere.fi. The search will evolve based on user activity. The search implementation is Cludo and will be piloted until the end of February 2026. The search was renewed in cooperation with Cludo and Exove, the provider of the Tampere.fi web service.
The new search does not set any cookies for the user and there is no need to register for the AI chat or provide personal data. Searches and conversations are stored in the search dashboard and used to develop online services.
AI is increasingly used as part of the City of Tampere's operations and services. The City of Tampere promotes the responsible use of AI in its activities and seeks to exploit the potential of AI.
