Millions Wasted on Faulty AI Chatbots in California Colleges Expose Broken Priorities

California’s community college districts are investing millions of dollars in artificial intelligence-powered chatbots intended to ease student access to admissions, financial aid, and campus services. Yet these pricey tools often fail to deliver accurate or timely information, frustrating the very students they are meant to assist. Are Taxpayers Getting Their Money’s Worth? Contracts for these chatbots range from $150,000 to nearly half a million dollars annually per district, with some agreements stretching through 2029. The Los Angeles Community College District—the state's largest—has committed nearly $3.8 million since 2021. However, reality tells a different story: East Los Angeles College’s chatbot couldn't...