OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Google launched a new Google AI Professional Certificate and is making it free to every U.S. small business, a move aimed at closing the AI skills gap with short, hands‑on training built around real workplace tasks. The offering pairs the certificate with three months of Google AI Pro for practical use across planning, research, writing, content creation and data analysis.
The company says large employers including Walmart, Deloitte, Verizon and Colgate‑Palmolive will use the certificate internally, while ADP, PayPal and Verizon will help distribute the small‑business offer through their networks. Google frames the effort against an “AI fluency gap” in the U.S. workforce highlighted by new research with Ipsos, where managers report strong demand for AI‑trained workers but most employees have not received formal training.
For business owners, the credential is designed to be quick: seven bite‑size modules and 20+ activities that most learners can complete in roughly 8–10 hours, with a shareable certificate upon completion. The curriculum emphasizes practical outputs—project plans, marketing materials, research briefs, data visualizations—and encourages “vibe‑coding” simple, no‑code apps to automate routine tasks.
Google positioned the rollout as a national small‑business initiative while continuing to expand its Oklahoma footprint. The company announced a two‑year, $9 billion investment in Pryor in 2025, and Oklahoma institutions like Oklahoma State University have joined Google’s AI for Education Accelerator to give students and faculty no‑cost access to tools and training.
Company leaders cast the certificate as a workforce tool rather than a tech tutorial. “The Google AI Professional Certificate translates the power of AI into tangible economic opportunity for every business and worker… By providing this program at no cost to U.S. small businesses, we’re ensuring that businesses of all sizes have the most up‑to‑date AI tools and training,” said Lisa Gevelber, founder of Grow with Google. Walmart Chief People Officer Donna Morris added that tools like this are helping associates “embrace AI at work, unlock their creativity and drive growth for the business.”
How to enroll: Oklahoma small businesses can sign up now through Google’s small‑business portal and begin the certificate via the program page.
