Sens. Moran, Cantwell Introduce Legislation to Help Small Businesses Leverage AI Tools

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) recently introduced the bipartisan Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act that would authorize the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) to work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to create and distribute artificial intelligence (AI) training resources and tools to help small businesses leverage AI in their operations.

"In rural communities where resources and workforce are limited, AI has tremendous potential to fill the gaps and help small businesses with finance management, marketing, supply chain management and much more," said Sen. Moran. "This legislation would help small businesses use AI to meet their needs, expand and innovate. Combining these tools with a trained workforce will help make certain the U.S. is utilizing AI to grow our economy and bolster businesses in Kansas and across the country."

"Small businesses are the foundation of our economy and AI has the potential to help them maximize opportunities," said Sen. Cantwell. "As AI tools become more accessible and more powerful, we need to make sure entrepreneurs in Washington state and across the country have the training and technical support they need to integrate these tools to better compete, grow and create jobs in a rapidly evolving marketplace."

Kansas is home to 273,419 small businesses, making up 99.1 percent of all Kansas businesses and employing more than 590,000 workers. The State of Washington is home to 695,695 small businesses, making up 99.5 percent of all WA businesses and employing 1.5 million workers.

According to a report by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Morning Consult, 83% of small business owners in the United States who use AI in their business say it has been helpful to their company, and they used the technology for accounting, customer communication, social media and to reduce paperwork and streamline tasks.

The DOC's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) provides technical assistance to small and medium-sized businesses to improve their use of technology. NIST's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership also provides technical resources and other assistance to small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.

The Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training Act would:

• Develop AI training resources and toolkits for small businesses, led by the DOC, in coordination with the SBA.
• Include new trainings on how to use AI or emerging technologies to improve financial management and accounting, business planning and operations, marketing, supply chain management, government contracting and exporting. It also directs specific AI training for small businesses in rural and tribal communities, and small businesses involved in advanced manufacturing.
• Provide new DOC AI training resources to small businesses through SBA resource partners, including Small Business Development Centers, Women's Business Centers, SCORE, Veteran Business Opportunity Centers and the Apex Accelerator.
• Authorize the DOC Secretary to create a grant program for organizations providing AI trainings developed under this bill. It allows gift authority to use private sector and philanthropic donations to support these grants, with at least 25 percent of any grant funds going toward small businesses located rural or underserved communities.
• Require the Secretary of Commerce to update AI training materials and toolkits at least every two years.
• Require biannual reporting to Congress on the impact of AI training and toolkits developed and distributed under this bill.

Full text of the legislation can be found here.

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