Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday pulled back the curtain on IN AI, a statewide push to get Indiana businesses using human-centered artificial intelligence in everyday operations. The goal: help companies boost productivity, spin up higher-quality jobs and, if all goes according to plan, bump wages across the state. The program pairs an online hub with in-person roadshows, training and hands-on technical support aimed at both mom-and-pop shops and major employers. State officials say they want the effort to help raise paychecks and put Indiana in the running as one of the most AI-ready states in the country.
The initiative is being carried out by leaders of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, who built an AI Adoption Hub stocked with a playbook, a quick readiness assessment and a partner directory, according to the CICP website. The hub also offers peer-learning groups and in-person "AI roadshows" that spotlight concrete use cases and lower-cost entry points for businesses. Companies are invited to pitch projects, then get connected to curated implementation partners and training resources through the same site.
What IN AI offers
Braun cast the program squarely as a jobs and wages play, telling reporters that IN AI is meant to help companies "apply AI to boost productivity, wages and overall job growth." The administration expects the initiative to reach more than 1 million Hoosiers and engage thousands of employers statewide, Indiana Capital Chronicle reports. At the same time, Braun did not put firm state dollars behind the announcement, saying any public spending will depend on state cash flow and broader economic conditions, according to the outlet.
Rollout will come in stages. The first phase focuses on employer outreach and pilot projects. Later phases are expected to broaden across industries and regions as more companies test what works and what does not.
How the outreach will work
CICP leaders will handle much of the legwork, with a mix of roadshows, virtual sessions and partnerships involving regional economic development groups, universities and workforce organizations, organizers said. The effort is expected to put extra attention on Main Street businesses, while also helping larger manufacturers scale AI tools in a safer, more structured way, WPTA/21Alive notes.
Officials say the hub is built to serve as a single front door for employers who want to figure out where AI might actually help. Through that portal, businesses can explore process improvements, tap technical support and get linked with talent that can help them implement new tools.
Voices from Indiana employers
Indiana employers already featured on the hub say what really moved them were specific, on-the-ground examples. Jasper Group's chief information officer described using AI to scan thousands of engineering images, cutting down a manual review process that would have taken months. Joe Hyndman of Hyndman Industrial Products said having statewide guidance "helps move companies from understanding AI to actually applying it." CICP highlighted those case studies and testimonials on the IN AI pages.
A cautious note
Experts caution that the kind of gains Indiana is chasing are far from automatic. Researchers at UC Berkeley have warned that when AI is rolled out poorly, it can actually intensify workloads and expand the scope of workers' daily tasks instead of freeing up their time. UC Berkeley has urged employers to take a human-centered approach so new systems do not simply pile more onto already full plates.
Local business groups, including the Indiana Chamber, have praised the launch but also called for strong training and safeguards to make sure employees share in the benefits, Indiana Capital Chronicle reports.
Organizers say the first roadshows and employer engagement sessions are slated to begin this spring, with more tools and workshops rolling out over time. For updated schedules, session details and contact information, local coverage and the program hub list upcoming events, WPTA/21Alive reports.
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