The bottom line
On October 22, Goldman Sachs launched the Small Business AI Institute, an AI-focused extension of its free 10,000 Small Businesses program, with Anthropic, Google, Meta and OpenAI as partners. It’s part of a new $500 million commitment that also funds the program’s next 10,000 businesses. Most of the training goes through Goldman’s program and alumni network, but one piece, Google’s AI certificate, is already open to most U.S. small businesses.
- Anthropic will build a learning series and run workshops for program alumni; OpenAI will run workshops through the program’s community college partners.
- Google will deliver its AI Professional Certificate to almost 20,000 owners and employees, with three months of Google AI Pro at no cost.
- Meta will provide AI tools and training through Muse for Small Business, its AI agent for owners.
- To join the core program, you need a business at least two years old with more than $75,000 in annual revenue and at least two employees, counting yourself.
What Goldman announced
Goldman Sachs announced the Goldman Sachs Small Business AI Institute on October 22, calling it “a significant extension” of 10,000 Small Businesses, the free business-education program it has run since 2010. Nearly 20,000 owners in all 50 states have completed that program.
The Institute is part of a new $500 million commitment that also funds the program’s next chapter: education, access to capital, and support services for another 10,000 businesses. Goldman says the Institute itself will focus on three things:
- AI education for small business owners across the country
- Research on how small businesses actually use AI
- Access to capital for businesses expanding with AI
Goldman’s pitch is that many owners have tried AI but few have built it into how the business runs. Its Institute page frames the goal as closing “the gap between experimentation and implementation.”
What each AI company is bringing
Each of the four AI companies has a different role, and they reach different groups of owners:
| Partner | What it’s providing | Who it reaches | Available now? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropic | A new learning series on applied AI for small businesses, hands-on workshops, and research on how small businesses use AI | 10,000 Small Businesses alumni (workshops) | Not yet — details to come |
| The Google AI Professional Certificate, plus three months of Google AI Pro at no cost | Almost 20,000 owners and employees through the Institute | Yes — Google already offers the certificate free to most U.S. small businesses (see below) | |
| Meta | AI tools and training through Muse for Small Business | Entrepreneurs in the Institute | Muse for Small Business launched September 29, free with usage limits |
| OpenAI | Tailored AI workshops across the country | Through the program’s community college partners | Not yet — dates and locations not announced |
The tools match what owners already use. In Goldman’s survey, 86% of AI-using graduates said a chatbot such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini is a main way they use AI, and 54% use AI features built into software they already pay for. If you’re weighing one of these, our guide to AI costs compares the plans side by side.
What Goldman’s survey says about owners and AI
Alongside the launch, Goldman published a report based on a Babson College survey of 2,473 program graduates in August 2026. The headline: 86% use AI in their business, up from 56% in 2024, but only 15% say it’s fully built into their core operations. Other findings worth knowing:
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses 2026 alumni survey (Babson College, August 10–24, 2026).
| Finding | Share |
|---|---|
| AI users who use it every day | 63% |
| AI users spending under $100 a month on AI tools (including free tools only) | 73% |
| AI users using it for financial analysis or business planning (up from 18% in 2024) | 42% |
| AI users using it for data analysis (up from 26% in 2024) | 42% |
| Non-users who say they don’t know how to apply AI to their business | 45% |
| AI users who report no change in headcount because of AI | 84% |
| Graduates who say they’d benefit from more AI training | 77% |
The shift is from writing marketing copy toward money and planning work. The share using AI for written marketing fell from 74% to 65%, while financial analysis more than doubled.
Keep the sample in mind. These are graduates of a selective program: established businesses with revenue and staff, and the people who answered were 2,473 of 14,967 alumni surveyed. Goldman itself notes the figures may not represent all alumni. Across all U.S. businesses, the Census Bureau measured AI use at 19.8% as of May 2026. If you’re in the 15% group trying to go from “using AI” to “built in,” our explainer on AI workflow automation is a good next read.
How to take part
If your business qualifies for 10,000 Small Businesses
The core program is the main way in. According to Goldman’s program page, it’s a free 12-week course of about 100 hours, designed with Babson College, delivered with community colleges, and available in all 50 states. To apply you need to be:
- The owner or co-owner of the business
- In operation for at least two years
- Earning more than $75,000 in annual revenue
- Employing at least two people, including yourself
The Anthropic workshops are for program alumni, so getting into the program is how you get access to them.
If you don’t qualify: start with Google’s certificate
You don’t need Goldman to get the Google training. Through Grow with Google, the Google AI Professional Certificate is free for U.S. businesses with 500 or fewer employees and a valid Employer Identification Number (EIN). It’s delivered on Coursera and includes three months of Google AI Pro and Google Workspace Business Standard at no cost. Google launched the certificate in February. It has seven courses covering skills like research, data analysis, and content generation.
Watch out
Google’s offer is limited to one per admin, and Google and Coursera say they can change or end the promotion at any time. Before your three free months end, put a reminder on your calendar and decide whether you’ll keep paying for AI Pro and Workspace or switch back.
Watch for workshop dates
The Anthropic and OpenAI workshops don’t have public dates yet. Goldman’s Institute page is the place to check for updates.
Your next step
What to do this week
- Check whether your business meets the 10,000 Small Businesses requirements.
- If it does, apply through Goldman’s program page.
- If it doesn’t, sign up for Google’s free AI certificate with your EIN.
- Pick one money or planning task, like a monthly cash review, to try AI on first.
- Set a reminder before any free trial ends.
Keep going
Business Prompted publishes practical guides, tool reviews, and workflows for people who run businesses. Explore more at businessprompted.com.
Common questions
What is the Goldman Sachs Small Business AI Institute?
An AI-focused extension of Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Small Businesses program, launched October 22, 2026. It partners with Anthropic, Google, Meta and OpenAI on AI training, research, and access to capital for small businesses.
Is it really $500 million for AI?
Goldman says the Institute is part of a new $500 million commitment. That money also funds the next chapter of 10,000 Small Businesses — education, capital, and support for another 10,000 businesses — so it isn’t a $500 million AI-only fund.
Does it cost anything to join?
The 10,000 Small Businesses program is free; Goldman says it’s fully funded by the Goldman Sachs Foundation. Google’s certificate is also free for eligible businesses, with three months of AI Pro included.
Who can apply to 10,000 Small Businesses?
Owners or co-owners of a business that has operated for at least two years, earns more than $75,000 a year, and has at least two employees including the owner.
Can I get Google’s AI certificate without Goldman Sachs?
Yes. Grow with Google offers it free to U.S. businesses with 500 or fewer employees and a valid EIN, through Coursera.
When do the OpenAI and Anthropic workshops start?
Goldman hasn’t published dates. Check the Institute page for updates.
Sources & further reading
- Goldman Sachs — Goldman Sachs Commits $500 Million to Launch Small Business AI Institute (Oct 22, 2026)
- Goldman Sachs — Small Business AI Institute
- Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses — The AI Economy Is a Small Business Economy (October 2026 report)
- Goldman Sachs — 10,000 Small Businesses US: education and eligibility
- Grow with Google — AI for Small Businesses
- Google — Practical AI skills for everyone (Google AI Professional Certificate launch)
- TechCrunch — Meta is expanding its AI agent Muse to small businesses (Sep 29, 2026)
- NBC News — Goldman Sachs teams with OpenAI, Meta in small-business AI push
- U.S. Census Bureau — Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Business Prompted guides are written for practical use and checked against the sources listed above. Read our editorial policy.
