Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s a present-day catalyst reshaping industries, economies, and the workforce at a rapid pace. For Indiana, a state with a rich legacy in manufacturing, logistics, and life sciences, embracing AI is more than an optional business strategy. It’s a necessity to remain competitive and ensure economic growth. 

The Economic Potential of AI 

According to McKinsey, generative AI could contribute between $2.6 trillion to $4.4 trillion annually to the global economy. AI has the potential to boost labor productivity by 0.1% to 0.6% annually through 2040, depending on how quickly it’s adopted and how workforce transitions are managed. 

Leveraging AI in Indiana can enhance productivity across core sectors. The state’s strong presence in advanced manufacturing, supply chain and logistics, and the life sciences makes it well-positioned to deploy AI solutions that optimize operations, reduce costs, and enable new innovations. 

The Skills Gap Challenge 

Despite AI’s potential, a widening skills gap threatens to stall adoption. LinkedIn reports that hiring for AI-related roles is growing 30% faster than overall job postings, yet only 1 in 500 job listings explicitly mentions AI literacy. This disconnect underscores a major challenge:  workers are eager to learn, but employers aren’t always clear about the skills they need. Accenture found that 94% of employees are willing to learn AI skills, but only 5% of organizations are training their people at scale. The opportunity and responsibility to close that gap falls on education leaders, employers, and policymakers. 

Indiana’s Strategic Advantage 

Indiana already has the building blocks in place to lead the nation in AI-readiness. We are home to world-class universities like Purdue University, Indiana University, and the University of Notre Dame. AnalytiXIN, a strategic program run by the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, is fostering collaboration among higher education and industry leaders, creating a dynamic ecosystem where AI solutions are developed, tested, and scaled in real-world environments through shared research, data resources, and applied innovation projects.  

Furthermore, workforce development initiatives through Ivy Tech and Ascend Indiana are flourishing. Innovative partnerships are also growing tech ecosystems in Indianapolis, Bloomington, Evansville, and Fort Wayne, while strong industry clusters in manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and life sciences are economic engines for growth.  

Indiana also has a unique advantage in capitalizing in the AI infrastructure boom, with nearly $15 billion investments in AI data center projects announced by AWS, Google, Meta and Microsoft in 2024 alone. 

Through programs led by TechPoint and others, the state is already connecting employers with talent, supporting innovation, and helping future-proof Indiana’s economy. Now is the time to align those strengths into a shared strategy for AI adoption. 

BCG recently reported the countries and regions succeeding with AI share three traits. The first is robust and sustainable talent development systems. The second is public private collaboration. And the third is policy environments that are proactive and flexible. 

These traits are all achievable in Indiana, but only with a coordinated effort across sectors. Becoming the most AI-ready state will require preparedness, inclusivity, and impact.  

What should Indiana prioritize? Let’s make AI training accessible at every education level, and help businesses of all sizes adopt practical AI solutions. We also must create broad pathways so every Hoosier can participate in the tech economy, as well as invest in the digital infrastructure and policy frameworks to fuel long-term growth. 

At TechPoint, we’re proud to be on the front lines of Indiana’s AI transformation, supporting the talent, innovation, and industries shaping our future. Together, let’s capitalize on this collective momentum and build the most AI-ready state in the nation.