Andhra Pradesh Partners with Meta to Simplify Public Services Through WhatsApp and AI

The Andhra Pradesh government has teamed up with Meta Platforms Inc. in a bid to make government services more accessible and efficient. The collaboration, announced on Tuesday, promises to bring essential public services directly to citizens' fingertips by utilizing Meta’s WhatsApp Business Solution and advanced AI technologies like Llama.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formalized at Janpath in New Delhi in the presence of Nara Lokesh, Minister for Human Resource Development, IT, Electronics, and Communications (ITE&C), and Sandhya Devanathan, Meta India Vice President.

Lokesh, reflecting on his promise from the Yuva Galam Padayatra, said the partnership aims to cut down the red tape citizens face when obtaining critical documents such as caste and income certificates. By integrating WhatsApp’s API, the initiative will enable residents to request and receive certificates digitally, eliminating the need for visits to multiple government offices.

The collaboration also seeks to increase transparency and reduce the chances of document tampering, enhancing both security and trust in the system.

Meta’s Sandhya Devanathan highlighted the transformative potential of integrating WhatsApp API with open-source generative AI like Llama, saying it would improve operational efficiency and streamline access to government services. Meta has committed to providing technical support to ensure the smooth implementation of these e-governance solutions, with possibilities for expansion into additional areas.

Lokesh expressed optimism that this partnership is a major milestone in the state's ongoing digital transformation. With this initiative, he envisions the end of long queues and bureaucratic delays, bringing governance closer to the people.

Key representatives from both Meta and the Andhra Pradesh government attended the signing ceremony.