TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taipei’s Fire Department is upgrading its 119 emergency-response system with artificial intelligence and digital medical guidance, aiming to help dispatchers identify life-threatening situations faster and provide callers with critical instructions before firefighters or paramedics arrive.
The latest upgrade places technology at the center of Taipei’s emergency-response network, with the city describing the 119 command center as the “brain” of its firefighting and emergency-medical operations.
The department announced on September 10 that its newly developed AI Voice-Assisted Platform for the 119 High-Efficiency Dispatch System had received the top award in Taipei City’s 2026 government innovation competition.
AI listens for the warning signs
The new platform uses AI speech-recognition technology to analyze emergency calls and firefighting radio communications.
It can automatically identify critical words and phrases—including reports of smoke, trapped people and the absence of breathing—to help dispatchers assess the nature and seriousness of an incident.
The system is designed to automatically extract key information from calls and connect it with the dispatch process, helping personnel prioritize cases when major emergencies generate a large volume of calls simultaneously.
That could be particularly important during large-scale disasters, when multiple emergencies may compete for limited emergency resources.
Instead of relying entirely on dispatchers to manually listen for and record every critical detail, the AI system is intended to provide an additional layer of assistance.
The goal: cut precious minutes before help arrives
Taipei is also using a separate Pre-Arrival Instruction (PAI) digital system to give callers medical guidance while emergency crews are still on the way.
The system contains 13 localized PAI protocols covering common serious medical emergencies, including suspected strokes and acute chest pain.
When a 119 dispatcher identifies a potentially serious case, the system can help determine the appropriate emergency resources and provide the caller with instructions for immediate action before emergency medical technicians arrive.
The department says the PAI system was activated 16,651 times during 2025, with an implementation rate of 12.8%.
It also reported that the rate at which suspected stroke cases were identified and reported increased from 40% in 2024 to 46.8% in 2025.
Why the first minutes matter
Emergency medicine often depends on how quickly a serious condition is recognized and treated.
For stroke patients, for example, rapid recognition and access to appropriate treatment can be critical. Taipei’s new system is intended to help emergency personnel begin the response process while the patient is still waiting for an ambulance.
The concept effectively extends the emergency-response chain to the moment a person makes the 119 call.
The department is urging callers to remain calm, answer dispatchers’ questions and follow instructions so emergency crews can be sent with the appropriate resources.
Taipei is building a wider smart-firefighting network
The 119 upgrades are part of a broader modernization effort by the Taipei Fire Department.
In January 2024, the department introduced an upgraded intelligent and resilient wireless communications system featuring multiple command channels, real-time positioning, encrypted communications and redundant transmission systems.
The system was designed to allow emergency commanders to coordinate multiple incidents simultaneously without communications interfering with one another.
Earlier this month, Taipei also announced a pilot smart-duty fire station system, using Internet-of-Things technology to reduce the time firefighters spend handling routine station procedures during overnight shifts.
The system was first tested at the Minquan Fire Station, with the department considering wider implementation after evaluating the results. Central News Agency reported that the initiative is intended to address operational challenges faced by frontline firefighters.
119 remains the critical first link
Despite the technology, Taipei officials emphasize that the emergency call itself remains the starting point of the response.
The city’s official 119 guidance tells callers to provide the location, nature of the emergency, situation at the scene, number and condition of people needing help, and contact information.
Taipei also supports alternative reporting channels, including a video-call option and other accessible reporting methods.
The AI system is therefore not intended to replace emergency dispatchers. Instead, it provides them with another tool to identify important information and accelerate decision-making.
The bigger question
Taipei’s latest move reflects a broader transformation in emergency services: artificial intelligence is increasingly being used not simply to store information, but to help emergency personnel make decisions during the first critical moments of a crisis.
The ultimate measure, however, will not be the technology itself.
It will be whether the combination of AI-assisted dispatch, faster information processing and real-time medical instructions can translate into quicker responses and better outcomes for people in genuine emergencies.
For Taipei residents, the promise is straightforward:
When the 119 phone rings, the race against time may now begin with an AI helping on the other end of the line.
Leave a Reply