MAX Messenger Launches Digital Region Chatbot
The MAX messenger has introduced a new chatbot called Digital Region, designed to provide users with information about artificial intelligence projects being implemented across Russia’s regions.
Chatbots Continue to Multiply
MAX is steadily evolving from a basic messaging platform into a tool that supports the country’s broader digitalisation agenda and strengthens interaction between citizens and public authorities. This shift is driven in large part by the active rollout of chatbots that help users exchange information and access a growing range of services.
The Digital Region chatbot has recently gone live within MAX. It allows any user to explore leading digital practices and AI-driven projects being implemented in different parts of the country. Through the same interface, users can also submit online requests to adopt solutions they find relevant. In effect, regions gain another fast and convenient channel for sharing information, while the platform further simplifies interaction between government and business.
Part of a Larger Platform
To start using the chatbot, users follow a link and launch it with the start command, which opens a navigation menu covering available sections. If the MAX application is not installed on the user’s device, the system immediately prompts them to download it.
The Digital Region chatbot is positioned as a core component of a broader platform created to share best practices and successful examples of applying artificial intelligence and digital technologies across public administration and socio-economic development. For developers of advanced digital projects, it offers a new distribution channel that allows their work to gain nationwide visibility in a short period of time.
Simplifying Access to Services
Chatbots within MAX have become an important access point for public services. Earlier, the platform introduced the ability to book medical appointments. At launch, this option was available to residents of 60 regions, with nationwide coverage planned by spring.
The national messenger in healthcare is not just a communication tool but one of the elements of digital transformation in medicine. Its deployment increases access to care and improves how people interact with the healthcare system. Together with the national messenger team, we are developing medical services in MAX, including appointment booking, telemedicine consultations, and digital consent for medical procedures. More than seven million users have already received notifications in the national messenger about their medical documents, including certificates and prescriptions, said Vadim Vankov, Deputy Minister of Health of the Russian Federation.
Beyond the Federal Level
The ecosystem of practical chatbots is being developed not only by federal agencies but also by regional authorities. For example, residents of the Novosibirsk Region can use the Social Navigator NSO chatbot in MAX to learn how to apply for family capital benefits, request subsidised taxi services, obtain land plots on preferential terms, or register with employment services.
MAX also provides access to AI-powered features through its integration with the GigaChat service. Available functions include text and image generation, audio message transcription, and concise summaries of articles, videos, and other content formats. Notably, MAX offers this broad AI toolset free of charge.
Looking ahead, further expansion of chatbot functionality is expected to rely heavily on artificial intelligence. This will allow users to receive more detailed responses and navigate the growing range of services more easily. Over time, such solutions could become part of unified digital ecosystems at both regional and national levels, accelerating the digital transformation of public administration.
