When Max Keenan joined Y Combinator’s summer 2022 batch, he was working on Aurelian, a company that automated appointment bookings for hair salons. But less than a year later, a conversation with one of his clients led him to a far more significant problem.
### Discovering the Issue
A nearby school’s carpool line was constantly blocking the parking lot of one of Aurelian’s hair salon clients. The salon owner called the city’s non-emergency line and was put on hold for 45 minutes before reaching a dispatcher. Keenan realized the need for a solution to this problem.
### The Solution: AI Voice Assistant
Aurelian pivoted to building an AI voice assistant that helps 911 call centers offload non-emergency call volume. The company’s AI voice agent is designed to handle non-urgent issues like noise complaints, parking violations, and stolen wallet reports, freeing up human dispatchers for actual emergencies.
### Making a Difference
Since the launch of its AI assistant in May 2024, Aurelian has been deployed at more than a dozen 911 dispatch centers across the United States. The company’s innovative solution is helping address the chronic issue of understaffing in emergency call centers.
Emergency call centers are adopting Aurelian to alleviate their understaffing challenges, allowing dispatchers to have the support they need to handle high-pressure situations effectively. With AI technology stepping in to assist with non-emergency calls, human dispatchers can focus on critical emergencies, ensuring a more efficient response system.
Aurelian is at the forefront of AI solutions for emergency response, providing real-time support and handling live calls to enhance the effectiveness of 911 call centers. By leveraging technology to address staffing issues, Aurelian is making a significant impact on the way emergency calls are managed.
