On July 21, more than 400 business leaders, educators, community organizations, government agencies, and economic development partners came together in Central Indiana for the first in-person IN AI Roadshow of 2026.

The event wasn’t just about learning more about artificial intelligence. It was about helping organizations identify practical next steps and connect with the people and resources that can help them move from exploration to implementation.

Throughout the morning, attendees explored real-world Indiana AI case studies, participated in interactive workshops and connected with peers facing many of the same opportunities and challenges. Attendees arrived with different levels of experience with AI, and for Kim Brant, Vice President of Workforce and Talent at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, that range of perspectives became one of the strengths of the day.

“My biggest ‘aha!’ moment of the roadshow was just the range and diversity of the attendees and those that are here. At first, I thought I might be the only one who didn’t quite know much about AI, but that’s not the case. People are here who are just getting started with their business to those who have more experience and work with it every day.”

AI adoption starts with practical examples

Instead of hypothetical conversations about what AI could do, attendees heard directly from Indiana organizations already putting AI to work. At July’s Roadshow, attendees heard from Tiffany Bowman of Rolls-Royce as well as Danielle Carey Tolan, Deputy Mayor of the City of Westfield and Derrick Cash, VP of Innovations & Growth at RADcube. Together, their stories offered a look at how organizations across sectors are approaching AI, giving attendees practical examples and ideas they could consider within their own organizations.

Aaron Kopel, CEO of Project Brilliant, pointed to the variety of perspectives represented throughout the day as a valuable part of the experience.

“It’s a great opportunity to network with people who are interested in AI, but also to learn about the programs that are going on from the State, and some great examples and use cases that are out there. Hearing from state and local government, for-profit enterprises, and nonprofit, you get the whole mix of different organizations that are trying to learn about and adopt AI practices.”

Those real-world examples don’t end with the Roadshow. Through IN AI, organizations can continue exploring case studies from Indiana companies and organizations already putting AI to work, providing practical examples and lessons that others can learn from as they consider their own opportunities.

The biggest question isn’t “why AI?” It’s “what’s next?”

Throughout the presentations, workshops, and networking conversations, one challenge became clear: most organizations understand AI’s potential. The harder question is identifying the next practical step.

For many organizations, particularly small and mid-sized businesses, limited time, staff capacity and budgets can make AI adoption feel overwhelming, even when leaders recognize the opportunities it presents.

That’s why much of the discussion focused on practical implementation rather than theory.

Attendees explored ways to start small, identify opportunities within their existing work, and learn from organizations already experimenting with AI. For Jim Kerr, Chief Revenue Officer at eimagine Technology Group, the message for organizations considering their next step was simple: get started.

“My advice is to just jump in and get started right away. The only mistake you can make is not getting involved and not embracing AI. The opportunities to grow, do more with less, and achieve better business value are so much greater with AI.”

IN AI Roadshows are just one part of that journey. Organizations looking for a next step can continue the work through IN AI by submitting AI projects, connecting with student and industry talent, exploring real-world case studies, and sharing their own AI successes and lessons learned.

Visit INAIReady.com to explore resources and submit a project to be connected with a team.

Building an AI-ready economy takes collaboration

In addition to the stories shared on stage and the work completed during the workshops, some of the biggest takeaways from the Roadshow happened in between sessions.

Those conversations reinforced something that has become central to Indiana’s approach to AI: building an AI-ready economy isn’t about one organization finding all the answers. It’s about building momentum together.

For Tim Hickle, co-founder of Lemhi, this collaborative spirit represents one of Indiana’s greatest competitive advantages.

“The thing that makes me the most optimistic about AI adoption in the state of Indiana is the collaborative nature of Hoosier businesses. I’ve been in the Indiana tech scene for over 15 years, and this is something I’ve seen over and over again, in every single epoch of technological change. What we’ve seen in this city and this state is the power of the connective tissue of our community; that’s something that not every community has.”

That “connective tissue” is critical in building the most AI-ready economy. Progress happens faster when organizations share what they’re learning, find the right partners, and build on work already happening across the state.

What’s next

The Central Indiana IN AI Roadshow marked the beginning of a statewide series to help organizations move from AI curiosity to AI capability. And if the first stop was any indication, these events aren’t meant to be passive.

For those considering attending a future stop, Brian McGrath, Executive Vice President of Programs at EdChoice, offered some advice: come ready to participate.

“Come ready to learn, come ready to be active, come ready to be engaged in the process. It’s not a meeting where you sit in the back and just hope you can get the free breakfast and leave. You have to go, get on your computer, and learn how to do things you don’t already know.”

IN AI is on the road throughout the next several months, bringing these conversations and resources to regions across Indiana.

Visit https://cicpindiana.com/ai-roadshows/ to register for an upcoming event in your region.

Because becoming the nation’s most AI-ready economy won’t happen through a single event. It will happen by making it easier for organizations across Indiana to learn, collaborate, and take meaningful next steps together.