The Competition and Consumer Affairs Commission (CCAC) in collaboration with the Department of Consumer Affairs of the Ministry of Tourism Industry and Commerce today observed World Consumer Rights Day (WCRD) with a mini pop-up expo and launch of its AI agent named “Damion with whom consumers can communicate via the Commission’s WhatsApp number 625-0557 on a 24 hours basis to source related consumer protection information.
The launch of the AI agent is seen as quite appropriate since this year’s WCRD theme is “Fair and Responsible AI for Consumers”.
Speaking at the launch, Mr. Eldon Marks, CEO of the technology firm V75 Inc. and developer of the AI agent said that, Damion’s real utility is that it assimilates 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 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”, said Minister of Tourism Industry and Commerce, Onedge Waldron in her WCRD message.
Damion is the second AI agent launched for a government entity.
In addressing the event, the Director of the CCAC Mr. Rabindra Kandhi highlighted that celebrating WCRD day gives us a chance to demand that the rights of all consumers are respected and protected and to protest against market abuses that undermine those rights.
The Consumer Affairs Department of the Ministry of Tourism, the Guyana National Bureau of Standards, the Public Utilities Commission, the Food and Drug Department of the Ministry of Health, EveryData, and DIGICEL Guyana also participated in the mini-expo.
