Indiana Launches IN AI Portal for Business Adoption

On April 28, 2026, Governor Mike Braun unveiled IN AI, a statewide initiative designed to help Indiana businesses integrate artificial intelligence into their operations. The announcement came during a press conference in Indianapolis, where Braun stood alongside CEOs from the Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to present the new portal.

The portal aims to connect employers—both small businesses and large corporations—with practical AI applications and technical advice. Commerce Secretary David Adams stated the initiative targets 1 million Hoosiers, emphasizing that the goal is equipping people, not replacing them.

According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, the site offers employers examples of practical AI use cases, technical support, and access to workshops and peer support groups. The CICP will execute the initiative through a series of workshops, virtual demonstrations, and direct outreach via regional partners.

Braun's stated objective is straightforward: accelerate AI adoption to boost productivity, wages, and overall job growth. He wants Indiana to become the most AI-ready state in the nation. The governor cited his own entrepreneurial background, noting that eagerly adopting new technologies drove his past success.

There's a catch, though. Braun did not commit state funding toward the initiative. He told reporters funding will depend on state cashflow and the economy (a detail that suggests this may be more advisory than subsidized).

Research backing the initiative includes an analysis finding workers saved an hour a day on menial tasks when they integrated AI into their workflow. Braun also pointed to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce study showing AI adoption allows small businesses to compete with larger corporations.

Not all research is optimistic. Researchers from the University of California-Berkeley found AI may intensify work by broadening the scope of a person's job and pressuring employees to continue working through breaks. This could result in unsustainable productivity gains if adopted haphazardly.

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce praised the effort, calling it a growth multiplier for small business. Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders said IN AI helps translate AI's promise into practical steps so small businesses can become more competitive and better positioned to grow in their local communities.

Real-world examples from Indiana businesses illustrate how the technology is being applied. Chad Harter, chief information officer of the Jasper Group, said the commercial furniture manufacturer uses AI to scan thousands of engineering images and documents—saving five months of manual work.

Hyndman Industrial Products in Fort Wayne started using AI for market research, business intelligence, and inventory management. Owner Joe Hyndman described the outcome as faster decisions, better throughput, and the confidence to keep hiring and investing in their Indiana business.

Hyndman offered advice to fellow owners in traditional industries: map the workflow first, build a solution around the business, and put it to work. This practical approach contrasts with the abstract promises often made about AI transformation.

Braun acknowledged fears of job displacement when asked about the topic. He said a lot of it is unknown, but emphasized that if you don't embrace AI and get to know it, you don't know where it's going to go. He noted the rest of the world is looking at AI too, and they want to get there first.

The initiative will roll out in phases, beginning with employer engagement and initial projects, followed by expansion across industries and regions. The Indiana Chamber will be engaged with stakeholders and businesses throughout the rollout.

Whether this portal actually moves the needle for Indiana businesses remains to be seen. The portal offers guidance, but without committed funding, adoption will depend on whether companies find the value worth pursuing on their own. For small businesses especially, the question isn't whether AI works—it's whether they can afford to implement it properly.

Artūras Malašauskas is an AI Systems Integrator with 20+ years of production-grade web engineering experience. He has designed, shipped, and scaled enterprise Python/PHP systems for logistics, SaaS, and public-sector clients. For the past year, he has focused exclusively on AI integrations: deploying open-source LLMs, building generative media pipelines (image, audio, video), and engineering multi-agent workflows for real production environments. His standard: reproducibility, security, cost-efficient inference—no vaporware. He documents and evaluates emerging AI tooling, separating verified capabilities from marketing noise. Technical editor at: muza-ai.eu, ai-verslas.lt, ai-naujinos.lt Connect on LinkedIn