County IT proposes contracted AI chatbot for redesigned website after in‑house prototype issues

Ken Smith, the county’s Digital Services Officer, told Commissioners the county experimented with an in-house AI chatbot called "Pepper" but concluded it was not practical to maintain. He said the team built a prototype but had to suspend it when it provided incorrect answers and repeatedly insisted on wrong information: “I lovingly named it Pepper after my, former dog,” Ken said while explaining the experiment and why a paid vendor is being considered.

Ken described the current proposal as a 1‑year contract with a vendor that specializes in website AI search and chat functions; it will provide usage metrics (questions asked) without collecting personal information. Commissioners asked how success would be measured; Ken answered that usage in the first 3–6 months would guide renewal decisions and that a January rollout is targeted if approved.

Commissioners urged public communication about the new tools and recommended a formal launch with communications staff. The proposal includes multiple bids and Ken said the vendor selection process favored functionality, data protections, and cost-effectiveness. The court did not vote on the contract during the workshop; discussion focused on metrics, privacy safeguards and public outreach.