American Express has introduced two new programmes aimed at helping small businesses turn artificial intelligence from an experimental tool into a practical driver of productivity and growth.
Announced this week, the initiatives are being delivered in partnership with global non-profit Generation and US-based Scholarship America. They target a growing gap between enthusiasm for AI tools and their day-to-day adoption in small firms, where many owner-managers still lack structured training.
The first programme, AI Upskilling for Small Business, is a free online training course developed by Generation and open to businesses worldwide. It is available in English and Spanish and is designed to be accessible to employees at different levels of experience.
The second initiative, Smart Futures for Small Business Scholarships, is limited to the United States. Funded by the American Express Foundation, it offers eligible employees up to $1,000 (around £790) to cover the cost of AI certifications from approved education providers and training platforms.
American Express said the programmes are intended to move businesses beyond basic experimentation with AI tools and toward measurable workplace use. Jennifer Skyler, chief corporate affairs officer at the company, said the aim is to help small firms apply AI in everyday operations, from marketing to customer service.
Research cited by industry observers suggests that while awareness of AI tools is widespread among small businesses in the UK and US, actual structured adoption remains limited. Lack of training and confidence continues to be identified as a major barrier.
The Generation training is divided into three learning paths. One focuses on general AI use and includes short practical exercises for daily business tasks. Another is aimed at digital marketing, teaching users how to create content, refine campaigns and interpret customer data using AI tools. A third track focuses on customer service applications, including faster response handling and personalised communication.
Bonni Theriault, chief partnerships officer at Generation, said the training is designed to be practical and immediately applicable in the workplace, rather than theoretical.
The impact of early participation has already been highlighted by small business owners. One US bakery owner said AI tools allowed her to analyse customer feedback and identify trends without the need for additional staff, giving her access to insights typically reserved for larger companies.
The scholarship programme, meanwhile, allows business owners to nominate employees for targeted training, with funding provided to support certification courses. Mike Nylund, president and chief executive of Scholarship America, described it as a way of preparing the workforce for rapid technological change.
For small businesses outside the US, only the free training component is available, though it remains open globally. Registration is currently underway, with multiple training cohorts planned throughout the year and applications closing on 10 June 2026.
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