AI is changing how we work, offering new ways to make decisions, solve problems, and be more productive and creative – whether you’re a small business owner trying to reach new customers, or a student studying for a biology exam. As a result, it’s no surprise that Canadians are demonstrating an increasing demand for AI-focused training and support. According to Google’s most recent Economic Impact Report from Public First, 63% of Canadian workers are interested in AI Skilling, rising to 73% of young Canadians. Although only 27% of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada are using AI, nearly half (42%) stated they would require assistance to integrate AI into their operations.
Google has announced the launch of two new courses from Grow with Google, Prompting Essentials and AI for SMBs, to help overcome the AI skills gap in Canada.
The goal of the latest Grow with Google courses is to give individuals and small businesses functional, practical AI skills so they can use AI to streamline their tasks, save time, and benefit from it.
With Prompting Essentials, people will gain the prompting skills and strategies necessary to use AI to perform daily activities, improve their creativity, save time, and accomplish more. The course effectively distills prompting into five practical categories based on tried-and-true methods created by Google AI experts. It expands upon the fundamental ideas covered in Google AI Essentials, the most popular generative AI course ever offered on Coursera worldwide. They are collaborating with non-profits like ComIT, Halifax Partnership, Digital Nova Scotia, Digital Main Street, BC Tech, and the Canadian Council for Indigenous Businesses to offer scholarships to people in their network to lower the barrier to entry for AI adoption.
Being the foundation of the Canadian economy, small businesses foster innovation, generate employment, and fortify communities. “Canadian small businesses are the heartbeat of our communities. We want to empower them with the tools to thrive in the digital age. Our new AI courses offer the practical, accessible skills entrepreneurs need to save time, drive growth, and continue building a prosperous Canada for all of us,” says Natasha Walji, Managing Director for Google Customer Solutions at Google Canada. Though it may seem unattainable, artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that may aid time-strapped small businesses and entrepreneurs by streamlining company processes and opening up new prospects. AI for SMBs, which was created with input from Google experts, will outline the fundamentals of AI and how Google’s AI-powered solutions can improve customer experiences, boost productivity, and spur business expansion.
Their dedication to applying AI expertise to benefit people, businesses, and communities is shown in their most recent AI skilling efforts, which are a part of a larger skilling program with Grow with Google and Google Career Certificates. Over 54,000 people in Canada have graduated from the Google Career Certificate program to date, with 75% of certificate graduates reporting a positive career outcome, like a new job, promotion or raise, within six months of completion.
Closing the AI skills gap is an investment in Canada’s workforce. This will ensure that we are all ready to adapt and prosper in an AI-driven world. You can access the AI for SMBs free training, available on-demand here by visiting g.co/grow/AIforSMBs.
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