Artificial intelligence (AI) bots have been drafted in to answer questions about tax and services at two local authorities.
The trial at South Norfolk Council and Broadland District Council was estimated to cost £149,000 for one year.
Software would be used online and over the phone to provide automated responses to "routine inquiries" from September.
However, some councillors warned the technology could be "more irritating" for people wanting to speak with a human.
Speaking at a meeting of South Norfolk Council's cabinet, officers said the use of AI agents was "no longer optional".
