Local tech leaders want to see Hoosiers play a pivotal role in the ongoing AI conversation.

Why it matters: AI hype has penetrated industries like energy, health care, pharmaceuticals and defense. But questions remain about its day-to-day utility and the risk calculus surrounding its use.

Driving the news: The AI Fusion Workshop on Friday in Carmel saw hundreds gather to learn about practical uses of AI in the business, education and nonprofit sectors.

• Blazing Academy, the new name of coding and cybersecurity training nonprofit Eleven Fifty Academy, organized the event.

What they're saying: "We find that most people were just dabblers … so let's bring everybody together, show them the fundamentals and actually solve real problems today. Not hype. Not cat videos. Not parlor tricks," John Qualls, Blazing CEO, told Axios.

State of play: From earning a trio of federal tech hub designations in 2023 to outpacing its peers in tech venture activity to kick off 2024, the Indiana tech sector has celebrated a number of wins recently.

• But the state lags behind when it comes to the creation of new tech jobs specifically related to AI, something Qualls would like to see change.
• "It's still a lot earlier than I think people realize, but I'd like to see us lean in a little more," he said. "There's been a little lull and we're ready for the next wave. And I think this is the wave we can take advantage of."

Go deeper

A new annual report from the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana looks at how historically discriminatory housing practices have combined with climate change to create a losing scenario for some Hoosiers.

Zoom in: The report found that just 20 of Indiana's 54 Superfund sites have been cleaned and returned to usable land.

• Many of the nation's Superfund sites — contaminated sites deemed a national cleanup priority — are located in formerly redlined neighborhoods.
• As a result, Black Americans are 75% more likely to live near a company, industrial or service facility.

The study also found that Indianapolis and Gary have some of the poorest air quality in the country due to industrial plants and traffic pollution.

What they're saying: "The presence of several major highways and interstates cutting through historically and/or majority-Black neighborhoods is also a major factor in air quality in those neighborhoods," the study says.

Threat level: As Indiana's climate becomes warmer and flood risks increase, nearly 800,000 Hoosiers are at risk of being negatively affected and more than 270,000 live in areas projected to be at risk of inland flooding.

What's next: The FHCCI and nearly 500 other Hoosier organizations or individuals sent a signed letter to Gov. Eric Holcomb in early June pushing for the establishment of a statewide housing commission to address issues like these.

Keep reading

🎆 It's Fourth of July week. Here are the laws for buying fireworks, when you can set them off — and who to call when someone breaks the rules. (Mirror Indy)

🚨 A state law is changing use-of-force policies for IMPD and every other law enforcement agency statewide.

• The department and some advocates are concerned it will weaken changes IMPD made in the wake of the 2020 racial justice uprising. (IndyStar)

👑 Kalyn Melham has been crowned Miss Indiana 2024. The Muncie native will represent the state at the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida, later this year. (WTHR)

Indy area bars and restaurants aren't wasting any time rolling out new happy hour menus.

Driving the brews: Time-limited drink specials, aka happy hours, are now legal in the Hoosier state for the first time in more than 40 years.

• To celebrate, we're dedicating this week's Brews on Tues to all the deals we could find on brews (and more).

📬 Did we miss one? Hit reply and let us know.

• We'll update this list online, so bookmark the link and share it with friends.

🍹 Bocca

• Daily, 5-6pm
• $5 spritz, $6 Italian 75, $1 oysters

🌵 Cholita

• Monday, 4-6pm, and Tuesday-Friday, 3-6pm
• $5 house margaritas, $25 house margarita pitchers and more

🍺 The District Tap

• Weekdays, 3-6pm
• $4 wells, house wine and pints

🥃 The Exchange

• Weekdays, 4-6:30pm
• $3 off menu cocktails

🥖 Kilroy's

• Weekdays, 3-6pm
• $2 Bud Light, $4 Titos, $8 Long Islands and more

🤑 The Mash House

• Sunday and Friday, 2-4pm; Tuesday-Thursday, 3-6pm
• Half off all alcoholic drinks

🧉 Nowhere Special

• Sunday-Thursday, 5-8pm
• $8 for four select cocktails

🍤 St. Elmo Steak House

• Monday-Thursday, 4-6pm
• $3 oysters, $5 off certain cocktails, $3 off all draft beers and more

🍻 Upland Brewing Co.

• Weekdays, 3-5pm
• Select beers $4

Even more happy hour deals

Ope, lemme just sneak by to let you know Indianapolis has been deemed one of the most polite cities in the Midwest.

Driving the news: In an effort to understand the stereotype of the overly polite Midwestern, a Michigan betting site polled 2,000 people from Midwestern states to ask about how polite they perceived people in their cities to be.

• They then tallied up actions like holding doors, tipping well and bringing a shared dish to a party.

Zoom in: Indianapolis was the 10th most polite city in the Midwest.

• Other study findings include 74% of Midwesterners apologizing when they've done nothing wrong, 64% waving to people they don't know and 41% using the word "ope."

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