As the tech industry continues to push the boundaries of innovation, a new startup called Advocate is taking on one of the most daunting challenges in the world: bureaucracy. Founded by Emilie Poteat, Advocate aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to make it easier for people to apply for federal government benefits.
The Problem with Bureaucracy
Poteat got the idea for Advocate after watching her stepfather struggle to get social security benefits. Despite being eligible, he spent months waiting for a response from the government. Poteat realized that AI could help streamline this process and make it more accessible to people who need it.
The Potential of AI in Government
Poteat believes that AI has the potential to revolutionize the way government benefits are administered. With its ability to analyze vast amounts of data, AI can identify patterns and inefficiencies in the current system. By automating the application process, Advocate hopes to reduce wait times and make it easier for people to access the benefits they need.
Why Government Benefits is the Perfect Place to Build an AI Model
Poteat points out that government benefits have a wealth of documentation, policies, and data that can be used to train an AI model. This closed-loop system allows the model to learn from its mistakes and improve over time. Additionally, the government has a vested interest in making this process more efficient, as it will reduce administrative costs and improve public services.
The Benefits of Building with Government
Poteat shares her experience of chatting with the government about building a third-party add-on to their existing infrastructure. She notes that the government seems open to working with an outside organization instead of building out the tech themselves. This approach allows Advocate to focus on developing its AI model without having to worry about the complexities of government bureaucracy.
The Company-Building Process
As a startup, Advocate is still in its early stages. Poteat talks about the challenges of building a company from scratch and the importance of fundraising. She notes that she had better luck with firms that want to back moonshots than those that focus on supporting women and LGBTQ+ founders like herself.
The Future of Advocate
Poteat’s vision for Advocate is ambitious: she hopes that eventually, anyone who is eligible for any government benefit will have an easier time applying. She plans to expand into more government benefit verticals shortly after launch. With AI at its core, Advocate has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our governments.
A New Era of Government Services
Poteat’s description of the current system as a "missing piece of infrastructure" is poignant. She believes that Advocate can fill this gap and create a more efficient, user-friendly experience for people applying for government benefits. By leveraging AI and machine learning, Advocate aims to reduce wait times, improve accuracy, and make it easier for people to access the services they need.
The Potential Impact
If successful, Advocate has the potential to impact millions of people across the United States. Poteat’s vision is not just about making government benefits more accessible but also about creating a better experience for citizens interacting with their governments. By using AI to streamline the application process, Advocate can help reduce administrative costs and improve public services.
Conclusion
As we move forward in an increasingly complex world, it’s clear that innovation will play a key role in addressing some of our most pressing challenges. With its focus on using AI to make government benefits more accessible, Advocate is taking on one of the toughest problems in the world. If successful, this startup has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with our governments and create a better experience for citizens.
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