(Indianapolis, IN) _ Indiana’s Legislative Artificial Intelligence Task Force members are learning how AI is changing manufacturing and the workforce.
Manufacturers said AI is not replacing workers but helping factories run more efficiently.
Ashton Eller, vice president of governmental affairs for the Indiana Manufacturers Association, said companies see both opportunities and challenges.
“The integration of artificial intelligence isn’t just about new technology, it’s about the future of our workforce,” Eller contended. “AI has the power to elevate manufacturing, creating safer, more productive environments in allowing an industry’s workforce to focus on higher-level work.”
Eller pointed out manufacturers are struggling to fill open jobs. Lawmakers stressed the need to weigh both economic benefits and potential risks. Some raised concerns about low-skilled workers being displaced.
Ranae Stewart, senior executive director of the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership, said Indiana companies are already using AI. She added it improves productivity, product quality and safety while creating demand for new skills such as robotics and data analysis.
Stewart noted training and cybersecurity remain key concerns for small and midsize firms which may lack resources to safely implement new systems.
“Nearly half of the country’s manufacturers are already using AI tools,” Stewart reported. “With over 80 % expecting to grow their AI investment in the next two years.”
The task force will continue its work in the coming weeks and plans to look at how education and training programs can adapt.
(Story by our newsgathering partners at Indiana News Service)
