American Express has launched two new AI education initiatives aimed at helping small businesses around the world develop practical AI skills and apply the technology in day-to-day operations.

The financial services giant said the programmes, created in partnership with non-profit organisations Generation and Scholarship America, are designed to help small firms move beyond experimentation with generative AI and towards real-world business use cases.

The first initiative, AI upskilling for small business, offers free AI training for small businesses globally, with courses available in English and Spanish. Developed in collaboration with Generation, the programme focuses on practical applications of AI across areas such as marketing, customer engagement and operational efficiency.

The self-guided curriculum includes three training tracks tailored to different roles and levels of AI familiarity: AI Generalist, Digital Marketing and Digital Customer Success.

Topics covered include using AI to draft customer communications, support marketing campaigns, organise information, summarise content and analyse business insights, while encouraging users to apply human oversight when reviewing outputs.

American Express said the programme was informed by pilot projects focused on common operational challenges faced by smaller businesses.

Alongside the training programme, the American Express Foundation is funding the Smart Futures for Small Business Scholarships initiative.

Administered by Scholarship America, the company said the scheme offers eligible US-based small business employees up to $1,000 towards AI certification courses or training programmes provided by accredited institutions or technology vendors.

Small business employers can nominate employees for the scholarship programme, with applications open until 10 June 2026.

"AI can be a powerful tool for small businesses when it’s used in practical, everyday ways," said Jennifer Skyler, chief corporate affairs officer at American Express. "These initiatives were designed to help small businesses move from generative AI exploration to practical application, equipping them to drive productivity and help unlock new opportunities for growth."

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