Well-known Vancouver-based consulting firms partner with AI team to deliver first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence tool designed to make consultation and engagement more accessible to the public
August 27, 2024 – Vancouver, B.C. – Today, communications and consultation firm Coast Communications and Public Affairs and strategy advisory firm Deetken Insight together announced the launch of Middle Ground, a safe and user-friendly AI consultation and engagement tool that provides a simple way for the public to get clear, accurate answers about infrastructure projects. Designed in partnership with Cypress AI, the tool is designed to support proponents of major projects (such as mines, bridges, tunnels, energy and clean energy projects, etc.) that need to convey complex, technical data about the potential impacts of a given project and consult the public, stakeholders, First Nations and community members on those projects.
Middle Ground functions much like widely-used AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, but is safer, more precise and accurate. It allows the public to ask plain-language questions about a project and get plain-language answers based on the technical and scientific data that are often generated by experts as part of the approval process for those projects.
“Middle Ground creates a brand-new way of expanding engagement efforts by providing an easy-to-use chatbot made just for this purpose that’s available 24/7 to anyone interested in a project,” said Tamara Little, Owner of Coast Communications. “It gives people in the middle—those who aren’t particularly opposed to or in favour of a project but want to learn more about the detailed and technical information—a chance to be more involved in the consultation process and be heard. This will result in better input and more trust in the process and the project.”
Little, a trained and experienced consultation expert, conceived of the idea with her son Josh Syer, a university student with a passion for AI. After Syer created a demonstration project, the pair began investigating how this concept could be brought to market. They discovered that Vancouver-based strategy advisory firm Deetken Insight was developing technologies in partnership with AI startup Cypress AI that could serve as the foundation of Middle Ground.
“We are currently working with Cypress AI to deliver innovative AI-powered knowledge management solutions to our government and private sector clients, but when we met with Coast Comms, we immediately recognized how AI could be adapted to revolutionize public consultation and engagement,” said Deetken Insight Partner Julian Whike. This novel application is further proof of the power of AI to transform the way organizations do business.”
While the user experience offered by Middle Ground may be similar to that of a tool like ChatGPT, Middle Ground functions differently by ensuring the answers are 100 per cent correct and providing real-time citations that the user can easily open and review.
“Middle Ground only provides answers based on scientific and technical documents that the project provides, such as the environmental assessment documentation that’s typically uploaded to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Offices’ EPIC site,” said Cypress AI Co-Founder and Co-CEO Callam Ingram. “It does not pull information from random websites or make up its own information—all answers are cited and linked to original studies and documents so that users can examine the content for themselves. Middle Ground is safe and the system is secure, created by computer engineers with expertise in AI who follow data management and privacy best practices.”
While expanding consultation efforts and making technical data more accessible and transparent are the primary goals, the Middle Ground team also see it as providing substantial productivity benefits. A custom dashboard provides information about engagement to clients in real time.
“Organizations can save time and money by using Middle Ground to quickly look up answers to public, stakeholder, media or regulator questions,” said Josh Syer, Co-Founder, Middle Ground. “Our team is interested in areas where AI solves real business problems. Middle Ground is exciting because it’s not just a vague use of AI, but a specific and well-thought-out use case that will improve the consultation and engagement process for both public users and internal teams.”
For more information, visit: www.middle-ground.ca
Coast Communications & Public Affairs
Coast Communications is a boutique PR agency located in a bright heritage building in Downtown Vancouver that combines an in-house team with seasoned associates who share a goal of providing the best possible, results-focussed corporate communications advice and support. Its team of in-house corporate communications professionals and associates have over 75 years of experience in corporate communications, public relations and public affairs. We offer a full range of services, from strategic planning to ongoing support, including event planning, media relations, consultation and engagement, writing and more. Visit www.coastcomms.ca.
About Deetken Insight
Deetken Insight is a strategy advisory firm headquartered in Vancouver, B.C. We collaborate with our clients to solve complex and sensitive business problems using a hands-on approach, analytical techniques, and customized solutions that are precisely what our clients need. Our team comprises highly skilled individuals with advanced degrees in business, finance, economics, math, computer science, engineering, and the social sciences. We bring our passion for problem solving to all our clients who include government and other broader public sector organizations and private companies. For more about Deetken Insight, visit www.deetken.com.
About Cypress AI
Cypress AI was born out of a pressing need to revolutionize inefficient knowledge management and cumbersome RFP response processes. What began as a solution to internal challenges quickly evolved into a game-changing innovation. The company is now on a mission to revolutionize how businesses harness the power of artificial intelligence to drive efficiency, accuracy, and innovation. Its journey began with a vision to transform traditional workflows and processes into seamless, AI-driven solutions that empower organizations to thrive in the digital age. Visit www.cypressai.co.
