Washington, D.C. — At its flagship event celebrating America’s small businesses, CO—100, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced the launch of Small Business B(AI)sics, a national training initiative designed to help entrepreneurs harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to grow their businesses and strengthen local economies.
Developed in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and supported by Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, the program aims to reach 40,000 small business owners over the next three years through a combination of in-person and digital training resources.
“For more than a century, the Chamber has helped businesses adapt to change,” said U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark. “Together with Google and the U.S. Chamber Foundation, we are helping Main Street entrepreneurs embrace cutting-edge technology to make their companies stronger, more resilient, and more competitive.”
Small Business B(AI)sics offers:
- Local, in-person training through the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s network of more than 1,500 state and local partners.
- A digital AI learning hub hosted on the Chamber’s small business platform, CO—, featuring training modules, webinars, certification opportunities, and practical guides.
- A nationwide recruitment campaign to encourage entrepreneurs across Main Street America to sign-up for training.
The support from Google.org is part of a series of investments the company also announced under the AI Works initiative to help advance AI education for small businesses.
“Small businesses are the engine of our communities and economy, and more than half of small business leaders say AI tools are critical to their businesses’ success,” said Karan Bhatia, Google’s VP of Government Affairs & Public Policy. “Through this new collaboration, we’re making sure every Main Street entrepreneur has access to the critical AI tools and training they need to grow.”
According to the Chamber’s Empowering Small Business Technology Report, AI adoption among small businesses has more than doubled since 2023. Entrepreneurs report that AI helps them save time, improve customer service, and unlock new growth opportunities.
The initiative is part of the Chamber’s broader commitment to ensuring small businesses of every size and from every community have the opportunity to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
To learn more or sign up for training, visit here.
