64% of Small Business Owners Already Do or Plan to Use AI Tools

And now Google has free AI training tools to help

By
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Jerri Ledford
Senior News Editor, Fact Checker
  • Western Kentucky University
  • Gulf Coast Community College
Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others.
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Published on September 13, 2024 01:35PM EDT
Business Tech News

More small business plan to use AI tools in the future, but will probably need some kind of training to make the most of them.

AI isn't just for large companies; small businesses are tapping into the efficiencies it enables, too.

According to research from the Connected Commerce Council, about 64 percent of small business owners already use or are planning to use AI tools in the next two years. The decision is fueled by the need to increase efficiency due to inflation and economic uncertainty. And now, Google is offering free AI training to SMBs (small and medium businesses) through a funding grant to America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and an online workshop.

A small business owner working from home at a coffee table.
Small businesses can gain efficiencies and insight using AI tools.

Yagi Studio / Getty Images

The $10 million grant to America's SBDC is earmarked for the organization to create America's SBDC AI U, which will provide AI training to SMBs through clinics at SBDCs on university and community college campuses. Additional scholarships to the Google AI Essentials course will also be available to America's SBDC to train AI Clinic Advisors.

Additionally, Google has developed beginner training for its AI-powered tools that can help SMBs understand the basics of AI and how Google's AI tools can work for them. You can sign up for the course on Google's website and watch the training on demand when it fits your schedule. Digital Coaches are also available at no cost to train and mentor SMBs to help them grow their businesses.

The research from Connected Commerce Council points out that 82 percent of those SMBs surveyed that currently use AI have already seen a positive outcome from using AI, while another 81 percent say they believe that AI will be critical to success in the next two years.

So, if you haven't jumped on the AI bandwagon, now might be the time to start exploring your options and learning more about it.

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