ExtensionBot
Powering the Future of Cooperative Extension with Trusted Artificial Intelligence
Since 2019, the Extension Foundation has developed ExtensionBot, the first national AI platform designed specifically for Cooperative Extension. Built with an unwavering commitment to trust and accuracy, ExtensionBot delivers research-based answers 24/7 to Americans and Extension Educators/Agents across the country. Funding for ExtensionBot comes from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), New Technologies for Ag Extension grant.
With a maximum budget of $180,000 per year since 2019, ExtensionBot has:
- Supported over 60,000 conversations between May 2024 and April 2025.
- Integrated content from more than 35 Extension institutions, with six services publicly launched and more preparing for deployment.
- Created an AI system that strengthens in-person Extension relationships by connecting users back to local offices and services.
- Been recognized by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) as a more reliable and Extension-aligned source compared to generic AI tools like ChatGPT.
Why Trust Matters
ExtensionBot’s “Trustworthy by Design” Approach
ExtensionBot is built to uphold Cooperative Extension’s century-old tradition of trust and reliability. It is “trustworthy by design”, embedding ethical and responsible AI practices into its foundation:
- Fact-Based Network: Draws exclusively from verified Extension content,
reducing misinformation and hallucinations. - Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG): Provides referenced, transparent answers grounded in real Extension work.
- AI Advisory Board: Ensures fairness, transparency, privacy, and user accountability.
- Data Ownership: Honors and protects the ownership rights of contributing Extension institutions.
ExtensionBot embodies the national priorities outlined in the Executive Order on Artificial Intelligence Education, promoting responsible AI use, ethical information access, and strengthening public trust in AI-enabled services.
ExtensionBot is a national asset and a powerful example of achieving major impact with minimal investment.
Quick Facts
- 60,000+ conversations supported over the past year.
- 35+ Land-grant institutions participating.
- Recognized for reliability and trustworthiness in a case study by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) in 2025.
- Ethically governed by a national AI Advisory Board of Cooperative Extension professionals.
- Built “by Extension, for Extension” through a non-profit public service model.
- Future-ready roadmap already underway.
Public Benefits
- 24/7 access to trusted, research-based answers.
- Increased access for rural communities through future
SMS and app integrations. - Direct pathways to local Extension offices and services
for deeper engagement.
Organizational Benefits
- Reduces educator time spent answering repetitive questions, allowing for more high-value, in-person work.
- Strengthens the Cooperative Extension brand as innovative, trusted, and easy-to-access.
- Provides real-time data and user insights to improve Cooperative Extension program delivery and outreach strategies.
Experiment with ExtensionBot
Strategic Growth Roadmap
Why Greater Investment Matters
With greater investment, including investment in the New Technologies for Ag Extension funding line, the Extension Foundation is ready to scale ExtensionBot’s reach and capabilities:
- Expand Content Reach: Grow beyond 400,000 Extension resources to include USDA, NGO, and other trusted datasets.
- Advance AI Models: Enhance the quality, nuance, and accuracy of answers with updated, specialized AI models.
- Launch Image Recognition and Diagnostics: Enable farmers, gardeners, and educators to upload images for real-time, AI-driven diagnosis and recommendations.
- Develop Determinative Calculators: Support agricultural and economic decision-making with profitability tools, seed selection calculators, and livestock management advisors.
- Create Specialized “Spoke Models”: Launch specialized versions for focused topics to support local and regional needs.
- Expand Access Through Mobile and SMS: Meet users on their preferred platforms, including low-bandwidth environments.
- Integrate with Cooperative Extension Apps: Seamlessly embed ExtensionBot across Cooperative Extension’s digital ecosystem.
Strategic Partnerships and Momentum
Extension Foundation is building a national ecosystem around AI for Extension with public, private, and nonprofit partners:
- 35 Land-grant University Cooperative Extension Services.
- Founding Member of the AI AgriBench Consortium (in partnership with the University of Illinois and Bayer Crop Science): ensuring the reliability and accuracy of Ag AI tools.
- THIA Partnership: supporting the expansion of ExtensionBot through scalable AI architecture.
- National AI Advisory Board: guiding ethical, practical, and impactful deployment of AI in Extension work.
A Vision for a More Innovative Extension System
ExtensionBot is transforming how Cooperative Extension serves Americans by breaking down barriers, expanding reach, and preparing the system for a digital future.
ExtensionBot complements Cooperative Extension’s vital in-person relationships by making research-based information and trusted Extension resources available to every American, anytime, anywhere, helping Extension better serve and connect with the public in an increasingly digital world.
