This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) program (CFDA 47.070) provides $599,898 to The University of Kentucky Research Foundation over a 3-year period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027. The project aims to develop advanced, user-centric task-oriented dialog systems that can seamlessly adapt to new user intents, provide comprehensive responses beyond structured databases, and personalize interactions based on user traits. Key innovations include leveraging large language models with reinforcement learning to enable mixed-initiative dialog, autonomous tool utilization, and personality-based personalization. This work is expected to significantly enhance the adaptability, flexibility, and personalization of dialog systems, directly impacting applications such as personalized tutoring, customer support, and healthcare consultation. No sub-awards are planned under this grant.