Students will learn what AI is, including a brief history and basic concepts. This foundational knowledge will help them understand how AI can be applied in a small business setting.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand what AI is

• Learn about common tools such as ChatGPT

• Recognize current trends in AI and their impact on small businesses.

• Successfully prompt AI within Chat GPT

Students are taught how to spot areas in their business where AI can help. We will focus on improving repetitive tasks, understanding customer needs, decision making and showing examples of how these micro events can make a large impact over time

Learning Outcomes

• Learn strategies to review existing business processes and spot deficiencies.

• Identify repetitive tasks 

• Recognize scalability gaps

• Get results fast and keep moving

Students will gain simple methods to increase revenue by implementing personalized marketing, lead generation and social media. Learn how AI can help a business get to the right customers they want.

Learning Outcomes

• Create simple, personalized marketing campaigns

• Leverage AI powered social media marketing

• Create content quickly

• Identify and prioritize the right customers

Students will learn how AI can enhance the customer experience of any business. Learn about tools like chatbots and virtual assistants that can improve customer interactions. We will explore how AI can make customer support more personalized and responsive, ultimately leading to more satisfied customers.

Learning Outcomes

• Add simple out-of-the-box chatbots

• Improve customer response times

• Provide 24/7 online support

• Use industry specific implementation strategies

Students will master how to use AI to manage finances effectively in a small business. Areas such as automated bookkeeping, budgeting, financial trends, detecting fraud, and providing insights for better financial decisions.

Learning Outcomes

• Keep up to date with Bookkeeping

• Improve budgeting solutions

• Predict cashflow management

• Create and manage invoicing

Students are taught strategies to effectively manage inventory, use predictive equipment maintenance solutions, employee scheduling and training to ensure their business can avoid unnecessary setbacks to generating revenue

Learning Outcomes

• Predict when key equipment is due for service to avoid breakdowns

• Better track products to avoid shortages or overstock

• Hire and staff the business appropriately

• Learn training solutions for employees

Students will learn about AI tools for recruiting, employee engagement, performance management, and workforce planning. By the end of this week, students will understand how AI can help hire and manage employees more effectively and efficiently.

Learning Outcomes

• Hire the right employees quickly

• Measure employee engagement

• Implement employee development strategies

• Improve performance management

We’ll give students an overview on how to use AI safely and legally. You'll learn about protecting customer data, following laws, and keeping AI systems secure to avoid problems.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand basic rules around keeping customers information safe

• What laws apply to the use of AI such as copyright and liability rules

• Protect your business from hacking and leaks

In Week 9, students will consolidate their learning from previous weeks and begin planning the implementation of AI strategies in their small businesses. This week focuses on practical steps and considerations for starting to integrate AI tools effectively.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify an initial AI use case

• Develop a plan

• Picking the right tool(s)

• Start to move