Why It Matters
Indiana state agencies are systematically integrating artificial intelligence into routine administrative operations—from legal research to transportation planning—raising questions about how government balances efficiency gains against privacy, accuracy, and public accountability. The state’s formal approval of 135 AI implementation plans over 18 months signals a broader shift in how state government conducts behind-the-scenes work.
What Happened
Indiana’s Management Performance Hub has approved 135 artificial intelligence implementation plans from January 2025 through June 2026, establishing a centralized review process for state agencies seeking to deploy AI tools. The state’s approach requires agencies to adopt a risk management framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology and submit readiness assessments that examine objectives, efficacy, and potential risks before deployment.
Oversight rests with the state’s chief data officer, chief privacy officer, and the Management Performance Hub. Once approved, agencies must submit annual follow-up reports or provide updates after significant changes to their AI systems. Notably, not all 135 approved plans have been fully implemented; some remain in development, others are in contract negotiations, and a few were not ultimately pursued.
Several agencies have received approval for specific AI applications. The Indiana Attorney General’s office secured clearance to use Thomson Reuters’ AI-powered legal research tool, which can generate answers to legal questions, draft documents, summarize case law, and identify relevant statutes—capabilities designed to help manage the tens of thousands of open matters the office handles at any given time. The state’s chief legal officer stated the office must “smartly adopt every available tool that strengthens our work” to continue fulfilling its responsibilities.
The Indiana State Police has deployed a video analysis tool that removes non-pertinent footage from recordings, limiting its application to legally obtained video and restricting access to trained detectives. The department also received approval for a license plate detection system and a data consolidation pilot program, though neither tool is currently in use.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has secured approval for 21 AI systems. One tool now in active use is Fotokite software that launches, flies, and lands tethered drones without requiring a human pilot—streamlining aerial surveys for infrastructure assessment. Two other INDOT tools remain under development: one identifies inaccurate GPS coordinates in crash reports, and another flags discrepancies in bridge weight limits by analyzing inspection images.
The Indiana Department of Child Services has built an AI system that compares agency policies against state and federal regulations. The tool is currently being tested by staff attorneys and could be rolled out more widely this year, potentially aiding compliance work across the agency.
By the Numbers
135 — AI implementation plans approved by Indiana Management Performance Hub between January 2025 and June 2026
21 — AI systems approved for the Indiana Department of Transportation
Tens of thousands — open matters handled by the Attorney General’s office at any given time
Zoom Out
Indiana’s structured approach to AI adoption mirrors efforts in other states to establish guardrails around government use of emerging technology. Many state governments have created AI task forces or policy frameworks in recent years as agencies seek efficiency gains in administrative functions. The emphasis on risk assessment, NIST compliance, and annual reporting reflects growing awareness that even routine AI applications can raise questions about data security, algorithmic bias, and public trust.
The variety of uses—legal research, video analysis, transportation logistics, and child welfare compliance—suggests state governments view AI as applicable across multiple functional areas. However, the gap between approved plans and actual deployment indicates that many agencies face practical barriers in implementation, whether financial, technical, or regulatory.
What’s Next
The Indiana Department of Child Services plans to potentially expand its policy-comparison tool beyond its current staff attorney testing phase this year. The state will continue collecting annual reports from agencies with approved AI systems, providing a mechanism to monitor how these tools perform in practice and whether adjustments to the state’s oversight framework are needed. As more agencies potentially pursue AI adoption, the Management Performance Hub’s review process will likely become a recurring checkpoint in state government operations.