Google gives every U.S. small business free AI training — Here's what it means for Ohio
With nearly 200,000 new businesses filed in the Buckeye State in 2025 and only 5% of workers considered AI fluent, Google's free certificate program arrives at a pivotal moment for Ohio's booming — but underskilled — small business economy.
Google is making a massive play to democratize artificial intelligence, offering its new AI Professional Certificate and three months of Google AI Pro free of charge to every small business in the U.S.
Why it matters
Despite the hype surrounding generative AI, a "fluency gap" persists in the American workforce. New research from Ipsos and Google reveals that while 70% of managers view AI training as vital for success, only 5% of workers using AI are considered "fluent." For Ohio’s small business ecosystem—from Over-the-Rhine startups to manufacturers in the Mahoning Valley—this initiative removes the financial barrier to high-level upskilling.
The economic incentive
The data suggests that AI literacy is no longer a luxury, but a requirement for career mobility. According to the Burning Glass Institute:
- AI-fluent workers are 4.5x more likely to have received higher wages.
- They are 4x more likely to report receiving a promotion.
- The training is designed to be completed in under 10 hours, making it accessible for time-strapped entrepreneurs.
What’s under the hood?
The certificate program moves beyond basic prompts. It is validated by the Skills-First Workforce Initiative—a coalition including giants like Walmart and Deloitte—and focuses on tangible outputs:
- Creative Production: Generating professional-grade video, images, and marketing collateral.
- Data Analytics: Cleaning and visualizing data for smarter decision-making.
- Low-Code Development: "Vibe coding" custom applications without writing a single line of code.
- Project Management: Turning high-level goals into comprehensive timelines.
"Fundamental AI skills are the new ‘driver’s license’ for the modern workforce," says Matt Sigelman, President of the Burning Glass Institute. "We are building a unified operating system for talent."
The network effect
Google isn't going it alone. To reach the millions of small businesses that form the backbone of the economy, the tech giant is leveraging massive distribution networks:
- ADP, PayPal, and Verizon will distribute the training directly to their small business clients.
- Walmart will provide the training at no cost to all Walmart and Sam’s Club associates.
- Colgate-Palmolive and Deloitte are also integrating the curriculum into their internal workforce development.
The bottom line
As AI fundamentally retools the "Ohio way" of doing business, the goal of this rollout is to ensure that local shops and regional firms aren't left behind by the AI revolution.
