Overview

Penn State Extension is piloting a new AI-powered assistant, Tilva™, designed to make trusted, science-based information easier to access—anytime, anywhere.

Built in collaboration with the College of Agricultural Sciences and the PlantVillage team, this conversational tool helps farmers, producers, homeowners, educators, and community leaders quickly find credible answers to agricultural and natural resource questions—anytime of day.

What the AI Assistant Does

Tilva™ is a conversational tool that users can interact with in everyday language. It is designed to:

• Answer questions using Penn State Extension's educator-approved, research-based content
• Provide localized guidance by incorporating weather and soil data
• Help users discover relevant workshops, online courses, and publications
• Support Spanish-language conversations to improve accessibility and equity
• Offer image recognition features (for example, pest, disease, and plant identification from photos)

The goal is not just to answer questions, but to guide users into deeper learning and connection with Extension educators and programs.

How It Works

The AI assistant is built on the PlantVillage AI framework developed by Dr. David Hughes and colleagues in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Behind the scenes, it uses:

• Verified Penn State Extension content
  Articles, news, publications, podcasts, webinars, videos, and select print or paywalled materials.
• Approved external sources
  For example, national weather and soil data, and trusted partner websites such as state and federal agencies.
• Modern generative AI models
  Large language models that can understand questions, search across Extension content, and generate clear, conversational answers.
• Continuous educator review
  Extension educators test the tool, especially on higher-risk topics, and review responses for accuracy and clarity.

If the AI identifies gaps in existing content, it can help flag opportunities for new Extension resources, which are then created and verified by human subject-matter experts.

Who It's For

While the tool is available to a broad audience, the initial focus is on:

• Producers and agribusiness professionals
  Quick, science-based answers to production challenges and day-to-day decision-making.
• Industry, community, and policy partners
  A window into trusted agricultural intelligence and Penn State's leadership in responsible AI.
• Homeowners and gardeners
  Accessible, plain-language responses to common questions about lawns, gardens, pests, food safety, and more.

What Makes It Different

Over time, usage insights and feedback will help refine how the tool is tailored to specific audiences.

Several features distinguish Penn State Extension's AI tool from general-purpose chatbots or other agricultural assistants:

• Powered primarily by Extension content
  Answers are rooted in Penn State Extension's educator-approved materials, not the open web.
• Localized recommendations
  Incorporates weather and soil data to provide more relevant, context-aware guidance.
• Access to exclusive resources
  Helps users discover Extension publications and materials that may not be easily searchable elsewhere.
• Photo recognition
  Supports photo-based identification for pests, diseases, and plants (where available and appropriate).
• Bilingual capabilities
  Enables conversation and responses in Spanish, expanding accessibility.
• Human-in-the-loop oversight
  AI supports, but does not replace, Extension educators—who remain central to verification and continual improvement to the educational materials.

AI + Humans: Partnering With Extension Educators

The tool is designed to augment, not replace, the work of Extension professionals.

• AI handles frequently asked questions.
• Educators focus more of their time on complex inquiries, applied research, program development, and relationship building.
• Feedback from educators and users helps improve the tool over time and guides new content development.

Users are encouraged—and in some cases will be specifically prompted—to contact a county Extension office or subject-matter expert when they need personalized, in-depth, or high-stakes guidance.

How to Use the Tool

On the Penn State Extension website, users can:

1. Open Tilva™ from the homepage and the embedded call-to-action. You may also access it directly at https://ai.extension.psu.edu. 
2. Type a question as they would ask a person (for example, "How should I manage spotted lanternfly in my vineyard?").
3. Upload a photo (where available) for help identifying plant health issues, pests, or other concerns.
4. Ask a question in Spanish to interact naturally in that language.
5. Explore recommended resources—articles, online courses, webinars, and publications suggested by the tool.
6. Share feedback on whether the answer was helpful or accurate.

Example Questions You Can Ask

• "How do I test my soil?"
• "Why do I have a high bacteria count in my milk?"
• "How do I run a starch iodine test for apple maturity?"
• "What are the top 5 things to consider before I start farming?"
• "Do I have to add lemon juice to canned tomatoes?"
• "How do I make my yard more watershed-friendly?"
• "What ServSafe classes are coming up in Dauphin County?"

These examples illustrate how the tool connects specific, real-world questions to vetted Extension information.

Feedback and Contact

Feedback is critical to shaping this tool. Users will be able to rate responses and share comments within the interface.

For media and partners: Members of the media and external partners seeking more information about the Penn State Extension AI assistant, interview opportunities, or supporting assets may contact ExtensionSupport@psu.edu.

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