New initiatives to help small businesses grow with AI

AI is rapidly changing how we live and work, offering opportunities for businesses of all sizes. For small businesses and entrepreneurs, AI can help level the playing field. That’s why Google is committed to making AI accessible and beneficial for small businesses nationwide. Today at the Annual America’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Conference in Atlanta, Google.org and Grow with Google announced two new initiatives to help small businesses succeed with AI. Here’s a look at the details of these programs, including how to access them if you’re a small business owner yourself.

$10 million in funding to America's Small Business Development Center

Google.org will provide $10 million in funding to America's SBDC, a national network of centers that provides training and resources to small business entrepreneurs. This funding will support the creation of America’s SBDC AI U, which will provide small business owners with AI training and tools and will establish AI Clinics at SBDCs housed at university and community college campuses. With training from America's SBDC AI Clinic Advisors, university and community college students will provide hands-on instruction and consultation to small businesses in their communities. America’s SBDC will also receive scholarships to the Google AI Essentials course to help train the AI Clinic Advisors.

Small business AI training from Grow with Google

Grow with Google is also launching a new AI workshop to help small businesses take advantage of Google’s AI-powered tools. America's SBDC will incorporate this training — which will feature case studies, demos and hands-on activities including prompting exercises — as a module within their broader AI U curriculum. Developed with input from experts at Google and insights from small businesses, the no-cost training is available on demand at g.co/grow/AIforSMBs. Grow with Google Digital Coaches will also teach the training locally throughout the U.S. If you run a small business, you can check out grow.google/digital-coaches to find and connect with a Digital Coach near you.

Learning how to effectively use AI can simplify the process of running a small business and help businesses grow. Cece Meadows, the founder and CEO of Prados Beauty, knows this firsthand. Cece uses AI tools to save time on everyday tasks and brainstorm ideas to develop her business. “Now, it only takes me an hour to complete tasks that used to take me one or two days,” she says. Like Cece, 82% of small business leaders using AI have already seen positive outcomes such as improved productivity, increased sales and more informed decision-making.

Today’s announcement builds on the impact of Google.org's $75 million AI Opportunity Fund, which will help over 1 million Americans learn essential AI skills by providing funding to best-in-class workforce development and education organizations across the country. Through these new initiatives, Google.org aims to equip more small businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources they need to grow and thrive with AI.