KMB has lifted the 100-character limit on its “bot1933” interactive chat feature following public criticism from a user who utilized AI to bypass the restriction. The change occurred after a passenger, identified on the social media platform Threads as “johnnyhoyin,” shared his experience of using Google Gemini to condense a complaint into classical Chinese to fit within the app’s previous character constraint.
KMB Adjusts App Feedback Policy
The incident began when the user attempted to report an incident involving a KMB route 641 bus at Tsun Yip Street in Kowloon Bay on the evening of July 21. According to the user, he observed a bus driver refuse to allow a mother and daughter to board at an old bus stop location after the stop had been relocated. The passenger expressed frustration that the “bot1933” system restricted his feedback to 100 characters, leading him to rewrite his complaint in classical Chinese—”今夕七時半，於常悅道見六四一號巴士，車站甫遷，有母女二人候於舊址……”—to successfully submit the grievance.
KMB stated in response to media inquiries that the 100-character limit was originally intended to help passengers provide concise summaries, allowing the company to categorize cases efficiently before requesting further details. Following the user’s viral post, the operator confirmed it has relaxed the character limit to accommodate passenger feedback.
Did You Know?
The user successfully bypassed the KMB app’s 100-character feedback limit by using the AI tool Google Gemini to translate his complaint into classical Chinese, which is more character-efficient than modern vernacular.
Operational Constraints and Public Reaction
The passenger’s complaint centered on the driver’s decision to leave the mother and daughter behind, with the user questioning the driver’s “lack of compassion” and suggesting the company should provide better guidance for passengers navigating bus stop relocations. While the post gained significant traction, it also sparked debate among other social media users.
Some commenters defended the driver’s actions, noting that picking up passengers outside of designated bus stop areas could lead to police prosecution against the bus operator. Others expressed amusement at the creative use of classical Chinese to overcome the technical hurdle, with some users remarking that the complaint was unnecessary given the relocation of the stop.
Potential Future Impacts
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the user rewrite his complaint in classical Chinese?
The user needed to compress his complaint to fit within the 100-character limit previously imposed by the KMB “bot1933” interactive chat function.
How did KMB respond to the feedback?
KMB stated that the limit was intended to ensure concise reporting, but they have since arranged to relax the character restriction in response to passenger feedback.
What were the specific concerns raised about the bus driver?
The passenger alleged that the driver lacked compassion for refusing to pick up a mother and daughter who were waiting at a former bus stop location that had been moved.
Will KMB provide more specific guidance to passengers regarding stop relocations in the future?
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