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Gov. Mike Braun's push to have AI directly touch the lives of 1 million Hoosiers is hitting the Circle City next week.

Why it matters: The state that has lagged on AI adoption is betting big on the tech's ability to boost wages at a time when negative sentiment around it is on the rise.

Driving the news: Braun stated his desire to make Indiana the most "AI-ready" state in the nation this spring with the launch of IN AI, a partnership with CEOs of the Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) to accelerate the use of the technology locally.

The goal is to increase wages, create more high-quality jobs and position Indiana for long-term economic growth.

Google formally joined the effort in May by aligning with the corporate partnership to host workshops to help entrepreneurs implement AI.

Google plans to reach about 10,000 Hoosier businesses.

The latest: Indy will get a taste of IN AI on June 26 when it becomes one of 10 cities nationwide to host Anthropic's free "Claude for Small Business" workshop series.

Each metro on Anthropic's tour will host about 100 small business leaders for half-day AI classes.

What they're saying: "AI adoption is no longer only an enterprise conversation," Melina Kennedy, CEO of the partnership, said in a statement. "Indiana has an opportunity to lead by helping businesses translate AI awareness into real operational adoption."

Yes, but: Funding for IN AI remains an open question. Braun was repeatedly asked for details at launch but did not provide a clear answer.

Instead, he told reporters that funding will depend on state cash flow and the economy.

Plus: AI backlash is growing, as people worry it will take their jobs, jack up electricity rates and further enrich the wealthy, all while hurting the environment.

An Economist/YouGov poll released in May showed over 70% of Americans think AI is advancing too quickly, with 68% of Republicans and 77% of Democrats saying it's moving too fast.

AI mentions have also drawn boos at several college graduations. 

State of play: Working-age Americans in cities like Indianapolis are nearly twice as likely to use AI as workers in more rural communities, according to a Microsoft report shared first with Axios.

Microsoft president Brad Smith warns that the uneven spread of AI adoption could deepen economic opportunity gaps.

Part of that boils down to trust. More than half of urban respondents say AI is likely to act in the public interest, compared with less than 40% in rural areas.

Zoom in: Indiana ranks 35th among states with an AI usage rate of nearly 27%, lower than the national average of 31.3%.

AI use in the state's Metropolitan areas is 28.7%, and use in rural areas is 15.5%.

Tippecanoe and Monroe counties, home to Purdue University and Indiana University, have the state's highest usage rates at about 47% and 46%, respectively.

Hamilton County has the highest usage in Central Indiana at nearly 35%, and Marion County has a usage rate of 28%.

The bottom line: Closing the AI adoption gap in places like Indiana could determine whether the technology narrows or widens economic divides across the country.

"If it's not addressed, it is one more factor that will exacerbate the opportunity gap that defines much of America in the year 2026," Smith told Axios.

Anthropic's free "Claude for Small Business"

Braun bets on AI to boost Hoosier businesses amid growing backlash

An effort to close AI use gaps statewide comes with unclear funding and growing skepticism.

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Gov. Mike Braun&#x27;s push to have AI directly touch the lives of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="1 million Hoosiers" data-vars-click-url="https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/04/28/governor-braun-announces-in-ai-to-grow-jobs-and-wages-through-human-centered-ai" data-vars-content-id="df2e36f3-d290-4b0a-a07b-f2891133093a" data-vars-headline="Braun bets on AI to boost Hoosier businesses amid growing backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://iedc.in.gov/events/news/details/2026/04/28/governor-braun-announces-in-ai-to-grow-jobs-and-wages-through-human-centered-ai" target="_blank">1 million Hoosiers</a> is hitting the Circle City next week.Why it matters: The state that has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lagged" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/07/22/indiana-laying-groundwork-ai-evolution" data-vars-content-id="df2e36f3-d290-4b0a-a07b-f2891133093a" data-vars-headline="Braun bets on AI to boost Hoosier businesses amid growing backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/07/22/indiana-laying-groundwork-ai-evolution" target="_self">lagged</a> on AI adoption is betting big on the tech&#x27;s ability to boost wages at a time <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="when negative sentiment around it" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/ai-backlash-polling-sentiment" data-vars-content-id="df2e36f3-d290-4b0a-a07b-f2891133093a" data-vars-headline="Braun bets on AI to boost Hoosier businesses amid growing backlash" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/17/ai-backlash-polling-sentiment" target="_self">when negative sentiment around it</a> is on the rise.

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