Indiana’s new AI chatbot answers questions about state government. Photo from IN.gov.

By Madelyn Hanes
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana government has a new digital front door with the redesigned IN.gov website. The homepage now features an AI chatbot, “Ask Indiana,” where residents can ask questions and get real-time answers 24/7.

Want to know when the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is open? “Ask Indiana” has the answer:

“Indiana BMV branch hours can vary by location, but most branches are open Tuesday through Saturday. Many branches are closed on Sundays and Mondays. Typical hours are:

• Tuesday: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM
• Wednesday–Friday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• Saturday: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM”

The Indiana Office of Technology launched the redesign last week as part of an ongoing web maintenance contract with Tyler Technologies, a software and services company assisting government and schools.

Indiana Office of Technology Director of Communications and External Affairs Graig Lubsen said the agency began the redesign in December and included the new features after obtaining user input through a survey. The redesign also features additional accessibility settings such as light/dark themes and font size adjustments to make the website more user-friendly.

Lubsen said “Ask Indiana” was created to modernize how residents can interact with state services. It uses generative AI and natural language processing to break down government agency “silos” and respond in real time.  It’s the latest foray of state government into the world of AI.

The state entered into a four-year, $22 million contract with Tyler Indiana in October 2024. Tyler provides services to maintain and operate the state web portal. According to Lubsen, one of its many deliverables in the contract was to focus on redesigning the homepage and agency templates every other year.

“Ask Indiana” can be found in the top right corner of the IN.gov homepage.

When opening the chatbot, users can find the seven point terms and conditions. Here it includes that the AI Resident Assistant may not always be correct or up to date, and it may limit the service’s ability to respond to particular requests such as personal information or sensitive topics or current events.

The chat often includes links to state webpages with more information.