The Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) held its January Board Meeting today at the Monroe Convention Center, convening regional leaders for a timely conversation on Practical AI for Productivity & Decision-Making. The program explored how organizations can use artificial intelligence to improve workflows, strengthen decision-making, and stay competitive, while also addressing emerging risks and the importance of human oversight.

The discussion was moderated by Clark Greiner, Interim Director of the BEDC, and featured a panel of Indiana University leaders:

• Anne Ottenbreit-Leftwich, Associate Vice President for Learning Technologies (UITS) and Barbara B. Jacobs Chair in Education and Technology, IU Bloomington
• Scott J. Shackelford, Associate Vice President & Vice Chancellor for Research, IU Bloomington; cybersecurity and internet governance leader
• Brian Williams, Faculty Chair, Virtual Advanced Business Technologies Department, Kelley School of Business, IU Bloomington

“AI is moving fast, and the best conversations are the ones grounded in practical use, real constraints, and real accountability,” said Clark Greiner. “Today’s goal was to help leaders understand where AI can support productivity and decision-making now, and what guardrails matter most as adoption accelerates.”

Key themes from the meeting included:

Where to start for quick wins

• Panelists emphasized beginning with well-defined processes that can be improved through automation or decision support, including internal communications, drafting, and knowledge work assistance.
• AI can also strengthen forecasting and planning, including supply chain and inventory scenarios, when paired with strong data discipline.

AI and the workforce

• The discussion highlighted that AI adoption is increasingly about capability gaps: employees who know how to use AI effectively will have an advantage, especially when outputs require expert review and refinement.
• Panelists underscored durable human skills such as critical thinking, judgment, and domain expertise as essential complements to AI.

Governance, accountability, and risk management

• Speakers stressed the importance of clear accountability within organizations for AI use, especially where regulatory exposure, data sensitivity, or reputational risk is high.
• The panel discussed practical guardrails to reduce risks such as unintended data exposure and misuse of AI-generated outputs.

Emerging risks and security realities

• The conversation addressed the rise of more automated AI systems and why organizations should be cautious about deploying them without strong controls.
• Panelists also discussed deepfakes and verification best practices, including straightforward safeguards for high-risk financial or operational requests.

During audience Q&A, one question made the crowd chuckle: How might National Championship Head Coach Curt Cignetti use AI in his job? The panel offered thoughtful ideas, but the BEDC will keep those specifics off the record; we don’t want to give our competitors an edge.

To learn more about BEDC meetings, upcoming topics, or membership, contact Communications Director Stacie Marotta.