Statewide initiative brings business leaders, technical experts, university students and regional partners together for hands-on AI experimentation and implementation

Evansville, Ind. (September 22, 2026) – Indiana’s statewide effort to accelerate responsible, human-centered adoption of artificial intelligence will come to Southwest Indiana on Friday, October 2, bringing businesses, organizations, technical experts and students together to identify real-world AI use cases and begin developing practical solutions.

The IN AI Roadshow, which will be held at the Old National Events Plaza in Evansville from 8 a.m. to noon (CT), is part of Indiana’s statewide effort to help employers understand, evaluate and adopt AI in ways that improve productivity, competitiveness and workforce readiness.

Led by the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) in partnership with the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP), Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), Ascend Indiana, TechPoint and other regional and statewide partners, the Roadshow is designed to move organizations beyond AI awareness.

Participants are encouraged to bring a real business challenge and a laptop. Following a brief introduction to AI and perspectives from regional and statewide leaders, attendees will spend time working directly with university students and technical experts to explore potential AI solutions, build and test ideas, and identify the next practical steps.

“Southwest Indiana has a strong history of making things, solving problems and adapting to changing markets, and AI represents another opportunity for our businesses to strengthen their competitiveness,” said Lloyd Winnecke, President and CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership. “The IN AI Roadshow gives employers a practical way to explore where AI can create value while connecting them with the talent, expertise and resources available across our region. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that helps Southwest Indiana continue to compete and grow.”

E-REP serves Gibson, Posey, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties and has identified business growth, talent, workforce and long-term regional competitiveness among its core economic development priorities.

Connecting Students, Employers and AI

A key component of the Roadshow will pair participating businesses and organizations with students to work on actual business challenges. This approach gives employers an accessible way to experiment with AI while giving students direct exposure to how emerging technologies are being applied in the workplace.

“Participants in our earlier roadshows in Indianapolis, West Lafayette and South Bend have told us how valuable it is to work directly with students to explore their challenges, identify practical AI use cases and begin turning ideas into action,” said Ting Gootee, CICP’s Executive Vice President of Digital Adoption. “It is a powerful model for helping Indiana companies compete while preparing our future workforce for an AI-enabled economy.”

The University of Southern Indiana has emphasized its role as an economic and community partner for Southwest Indiana alongside its educational mission.

“At the University of Southern Indiana, our responsibility extends beyond preparing students for the economy of today. We must prepare them to help shape what comes next,” said Steven J. Bridges, USI President. “Artificial intelligence is changing how organizations operate, innovate and solve problems. Giving our students opportunities to work alongside employers on real challenges strengthens their learning while bringing new ideas and capabilities directly into the Southwest Indiana economy.”

From AI Interest to Action

The Southwest Indiana Roadshow is designed to help participants translate AI interest into practical next steps, which could include identifying a relevant use case for their workforce challenge, exploring a potential solution, or clarifying a path toward implementation within their organization.

The program will include an optional AI Learn session for participants seeking an introduction to AI; perspectives from business, higher education, economic-development and statewide leaders; a hands-on AI Design & Build session with students and technical experts; AI Office Hours for organizations seeking additional technical guidance; and opportunities to connect with resources that can help businesses continue their AI journey after the Roadshow.

The Southwest Indiana event is part of the broader IN AI initiative, launched to make Indiana the most AI-ready economy in the country by helping businesses and organizations adopt AI in practical, responsible and human-centered ways.

Registration is now open for the October 2 IN AI Roadshow at Old National Events Plaza in Evansville. Learn more and register at www.cicpindiana.com/ai-roadshows.

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About IN AI

IN AI is a statewide initiative launched by Governor Mike Braun, with the support of the CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP), to accelerate Indiana’s readiness for the AI-driven economy. The human-centered initiative focuses on empowering businesses with the tools and resources needed to adopt artificial intelligence, aiming to engage Hoosiers around the state and make Indiana the most AI-ready state in the nation. IN AI will drive productivity, create high-paying jobs, and position Indiana as a leader in the global AI economy. For more information, visit INAIReady.com.

About CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership

The CEOs of Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) was formed in 1999 to bring together the chief executives of the region’s prominent corporations, foundations and universities in a strategic and collaborative effort dedicated to Indiana’s continued prosperity and growth. To advance this objective, CICP sponsors five key talent and industry sector initiatives, AgriNovus Indiana, Ascend Indiana, BioCrossroads, Conexus Indiana, and TechPoint, each of which addresses challenges and opportunities unique to its respective area: agbiosciences, talent and workforce development, life sciences, advanced manufacturing and logistics, and technology. To learn more about CICP, visit cicpindiana.com.

About Evansville Regional Economic Partnership

The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) was launched in 2021 following the combination of three like-minded legacy organizations in the business and growth space. E-REP promotes regional economic development and vitality, working to drive the region’s economic growth, attract a high-wage and high-skilled workforce and elevate quality of life. Its mission is to cultivate a thriving and growing talent-rich Evansville Region through advocacy and collaboration between communities, businesses and civic leaders.