Advocacy News – March 5, 2026
What’s happening: Google recently announced several free resources to help small businesses better understand and use artificial intelligence, including a new AI Professional Certificate program designed to build practical, day-to-day skills for business owners and their teams.
Why it matters: AI tools are increasingly integrated into everyday business platforms — from marketing and customer service to operations and data analysis. For many small businesses, the challenge is simply knowing where to start and how to use these tools most effectively in manageable ways.
What’s available: Small businesses can access:
- Free training to build foundational AI skills
- A new Google Business Profile resource hub with guides, tutorials and tips to strengthen online visibility – a key step as more search and discovery tools rely on business profile data.
The bottom line: Building basic familiarity now can help small businesses stay competitive – identifying where AI can improve efficiency while keeping human judgment and customer relationships at the center.