FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Hawthorne City Manager 4455 W. 126th Street Hawthorne, CA 90250

(310) 349-2900

HAWTHORNE, Calif., May 13, 2025 – The City of Hawthorne has introduced “Nate,” a new AI- powered chatbot designed to streamline access to city services and information for residents and visitors. The digital tool, which appears on the City’s official website, provides 24/7 assistance for commonly asked questions and service requests.

“Nate” is short for Nathaniel Hawthorne, the 19th century American novelist and short story writer who the City is named for. Developed in partnership with Citibot, a civic engagement technology company, Nate can answer questions about City programs, public works, permit services and more — all in real time through a simple chat interface. The chatbot’s database updates weekly, pulling from the City of Hawthorne website to answer questions from community members.

“The launch of Nate reflects our ongoing commitment to modernizing government services and making them more accessible to everyone in our community,” said IT Manager Josh Armstrong. “This virtual assistant is another step toward improving transparency and responsiveness in local government.”

Residents can type questions directly into the chat window to receive immediate answers or be directed to the appropriate department. The service is free to use, no downloads or sign-ups required.

Alongside the City website chatbot, Hawthorne is leveraging other technology to improve resources, including Wordly for language translation at City service windows and council meetings. Additionally, the City has expanded its communication efforts with the MyHawthorne311 app, allowing community members to report service requests quickly and easily across Hawthorne.

To chat with Nate, visit CityofHawthorne.gov.