Indiana is partnering with Hoosier business leaders to promote the adoption and use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by workers at companies large and small throughout the state.
Gov. Mike Braun announced the "IN AI" initiative Tuesday as a means to help Indiana businesses grow, create jobs and increase wages by focusing on the practical applications of "human-centered" AI.
"We want to help workers and businesses unlock these advantages and we're doing it in a way that puts people first. This program will help businesses adopt AI in practical ways. Our focus is on helping people use AI to grow their careers and Indiana businesses to excel in this new environment," Braun said.
The strategy calls for state officials to work with the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), and through them with employers across the state, to support business-led AI adoption that reaches more than 1 million Hoosier workers and drives measurable economic impact.
"IN AI is about making sure all of our businesses — from Main Street to large organizations — have the tools and talent they need to compete and succeed in a changing economy," Braun said.
"Our goal is clear: grow wages, create more high-quality jobs, and position Indiana for long-term economic growth by making it the most AI-ready state in the nation."
The Republican chief executive said he recalls from his own successful business career prior to entering politics that waiting to embrace new technologies often is more costly in the long-run and puts companies at a competitive disadvantage.
"Anything new, you got to not necessarily embrace it without question, but if you avoid it you might regret it down the road," Braun said.
"My goal is, as a state, we want Indiana to be on the leading edge of it, as we use it in our own government and how we apply it to the real world, the real economy, that pays the bills."
CICP initially plans to promote AI adoption through employer engagement and demonstration projects, followed by roadshows, virtual sessions and direct outreach through regional partners, industry networks and economic development organizations.
Businesses will also be encouraged to participate through a digital platform, targeted communications, and partnerships with universities and workforce intermediaries.
"Growth is our strategy and AI is a tool to help accelerate it," said David Adams, Indiana commerce secretary. "We're focused on helping companies build the knowledge, skills and capabilities they need to increase productivity, create more value inside their companies, and most importantly, for themselves."
Braun did not comment during his IN AI announcement on whether additional data centers will be needed in Indiana to accommodate the additional demand for AI tools.
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