Small businesses are discovering that artificial intelligence delivers real results — but getting there takes the right support. More than 75% of small business owners say they’re currently using AI, of which 93% say AI has had a positive impact. Those that have deployed AI tools are seeing productivity and efficiency gains and expect to see increased revenue as a result.
However, only 14% of small businesses are fully integrating AI into their core operations. An implementation gap has formed; more than 70% of small business owners say their organization would benefit from additional access to training to implement AI.
Fortunately, there are many free AI training tools and resources that can help close this gap. This guide includes online courses, books, webinars, and other tools that can help improve AI implementation at your company. We’ll update this list regularly, so be sure to check back to see what new resources are available.
Getting started: general knowledge resources
Free AI Training for Small Business by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Our virtual and in-person AI trainings are developed with Google and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Find in-person workshops at your local chamber of commerce, or sign up for an online course designed specifically to help you unlock growth, streamline daily processes, and build a future-ready business — no tech background required.
Grow with Google AI for Small Businesses
Take free workshops (online or in-person) led by Google experts and other business owners. These courses cover AI for customer support, finance, marketing, and more. You can also watch the Make AI Work for You video series for tutorials on how to make AI work in specific areas of your business. Also, check out Google’s Learn Essential AI Skills hub, a free library of short courses from Google covering generative AI, responsible AI, prompt engineering, and more.
OpenAI Academy
The company that created ChatGPT hosts events, video content, discussions, and workshops to help harness AI’s potential. Check out their small business community page for a range of in-person and online events for different levels of AI literacy.
AI for Everyone (Coursera)
This free course is open to everyone with no prior experience required. The instructor, Andrew Ng, is the founder of DeepLearning.AI, the General Partner at AI Fund, Chairman and Co-Founder of Coursera, and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University. Modules cover how to spot opportunities to apply AI in your organization, building an AI strategy, and working with an AI team.
Need AI Prompt Ideas?
Download: 100 AI Prompts for Every Small Business PDF
Free courses and certifications
Career Essentials in Generative AI by Microsoft and LinkedIn
This course is free through LinkedIn's Skills Initiative. Hosted by LinkedIn and Microsoft, it covers core AI concepts, responsible AI, and Microsoft Copilot productivity. You can earn a shareable LinkedIn certificate upon passing the final assessment.
Generative AI for Decision Makers by AWS
Amazon Web Services offers a range of different free courses and certifications in generative AI fundamentals, planning a generative AI project, and building an AI-ready organization. Courses are self-paced with no prerequisites.
Leadership-level courses and resources
AI Essentials for Businesses by Harvard Business School
This online course from Harvard Business School teaches leaders how to build, lead, and operate AI-powered organizations. It’s a good fit for anyone looking to investigate AI-based business models, generative AI strategy, and responsible implementation.
AI for Organizational Leaders by Microsoft and LinkedIn
This course is also free through LinkedIn's Skills Initiative. It’s designed for executives and senior leaders, covering how to strategically integrate and scale generative AI and how to build AI aptitude across your entire organization.
AI for Business Specialization by Wharton UPenn
Hosted on Coursera, this four-course specialization from Wharton covers AI strategy, ethics, people management applications, and marketing. It’s designed for non-technical business leaders who need to speak credibly about AI.
HBR Guide to AI Basics for Managers
The Harvard Business Review handbook covers using AI for financial modeling, product design, performance management, and hiring. An accompanying workbook with podcasts and worksheets to help you implement the guide’s advice is also available.
The AI-Driven Leader, by Geoff Woods
Woods wrote the practical guide for executives using AI as a strategic thought partner. This book covers creating and implementing an AI strategy, with workshops, podcasts, and other resources available online.
Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI, by Ethan Mollick
This best-selling book presents four core principles for thriving in an AI-transformed workplace. Mollick also regularly posts about AI on Substack and provides additional resources at Wharton’s Generative AI Lab.
Everyday AI Podcast
This daily podcast and free newsletter from Jordan Wilson helps business owners grow with AI. Episodes cover practical tools, news, and use cases in bite-sized, accessible episodes. It’s one of the most recommended podcasts for small business owners.
Hard Fork — New York Times
New York Times journalists Kevin Roose and Casey Newton host this weekly tech and AI news podcast, covering major AI stories in an engaging, accessible format. This is a good resource for leaders who want to stay informed without diving into deep technical content.
AI resources for marketing and sales teams
Hubspot: AI for Marketing
This free, self-paced course covers AI for content creation, email marketing, lead scoring, and customer engagement. It’s geared toward small business owners looking to optimize their marketing efforts by incorporating AI into their campaigns.
Marketing Automation with AI and HubSpot — Coursera Guided Project
Hosted on Coursera, this project walks you through how to combine ChatGPT and HubSpot to build an automated lead nurturing workflow. Learn how to set up contact records, write AI prompts for marketing strategy, design workflows, and create a campaign dashboard.
AI for Marketing Campaigns — HubSpot Academy
This is a free, bite-sized lesson from HubSpot on how to use AI for planning, executing, and optimizing marketing campaigns. Practical and narrow in scope, this lesson is directly applicable to small business marketing teams.
The Marketing AI Institute
This resource helps marketers and business leaders understand, pilot, and scale AI with a particular focus on free classes for marketing leads.
AI resources for HR and people management
SHRM AI + HI Specialty Credential
This paid, instructor-led program from SHRM helps HR professionals build a strong foundation in AI concepts and HR-specific applications, and concludes with a real-world capstone project. Participants earn SHRM recertification credits (PDCs).
AI in HR: The CHRO’s Role in AI Transformation, by Gartner
This piece of research from Gartner highlights three critical areas where CHROs must lead: aligning AI with enterprise strategy, reinventing HR through intelligent experience and preparing the workforce for the future.
SHRM — AI in the Workplace Resource Hub (Free)
SHRM Labs hosts a free collection of research, playbooks, video tutorials, and AI prompt templates from SHRM Labs. Topics include ethical AI in hiring, talent management, performance, and L&D, as well as a plain-language AI glossary for HR teams.
AI resources for finance and accounting
AI Applications in Accounting and Finance by the University of Maryland
A free-to-audit course from the University of Maryland is designed for accounting and finance professionals, with no tech background required. It covers working with unstructured financial data, applying machine learning to real financial documents, and using AI tools with minimal coding.
Certified AI for Finance Specialist by the Corporate Finance Institute
CFI’s seven-course specialization equips finance professionals with practical AI skills for financial statement analysis, scenario planning, risk assessment, and data dashboards. Participants do hands-on case studies and earn a certificate.
AI for CFOs: Mastering the Future of Finance by Udemy
This Udemy course focuses on AI-powered cash flow forecasting, fraud detection, invoice processing, and financial analysis. It includes prompt engineering for financial analysis and a framework for building your organization's AI adoption roadmap.
Artificial Intelligence for Finance, Accounting & Auditing by Udemy
Get a code-free, hands-on overview of eight AI techniques used in finance and accounting, including machine learning, NLP, and chatbots. The course uses tools such as IBM Watson and RapidMiner, but no technology background is required. It’s ideal for accountants and auditors exploring AI.
AI resources for operations and productivity
AI Automation Blueprint: Customize AI to Work for Your Business by SCORE
This free, self-paced SCORE course covers how to identify and automate administrative tasks, choose the right AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, NotebookLM), and build a custom AI Business Manifesto for your operations.
Microsoft’s AI Skills Navigator
Browse this learning space to find AI-powered skilling experiences and credentials that help individuals build career skills and organizations worldwide accelerate their business.
Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT by Vanderbilt University
This free course from Vanderbilt University covers writing effective AI prompts to maximize productivity using tools like ChatGPT. It’s one of the most practical skills any employee or business owner can develop.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
CO—is committed to helping you start, run and grow your small business. Learn more about the benefits of small business membership in the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, here.
What can membership do for your business?
Gain tools to stay informed, competitive, and connected by becoming a U.S. Chamber of Commerce member. Membership gives you direct access to expert policy insights, economic updates, and exclusive resources designed to help your business thrive. From behind-the-scenes analysis from D.C. to exclusive discounts and expert support, U.S. Chamber membership helps you navigate change and seize new opportunities.
