{"id":11655,"date":"2026-04-06T15:57:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T07:57:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=11655"},"modified":"2026-04-06T15:58:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T07:58:30","slug":"ai-literacy-for-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/ai-literacy-for-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Literacy For Startups and Small Businesses: Applications + Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"key-takeaways wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways\" aria-label=\"Key Takeaways\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__header\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__title\">\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__title-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\tKey Takeaways\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<button \n\t\t\tid=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways-button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__button\"\n\t\t\taria-controls=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways-content\"\n\t\t\taria-expanded=\"false\"\n\t\t\taria-label=\"\n\t\t\tToggle Key Takeaways content\t\t\t\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"url(#a)\" d=\"M17.401 6.445a1.525 1.525 0 0 1 2.153 0 1.517 1.517 0 0 1 0 2.149l-7.977 7.961a1.526 1.526 0 0 1-2.154 0L1.446 8.594a1.517 1.517 0 0 1 0-2.149 1.524 1.524 0 0 1 2.153 0l6.9 6.886z\" \/><defs><linearGradient id=\"a\" x2=\"10.5\" y2=\"17\" gradientUnits=\"userSpaceOnUse\"><stop stop-color=\"#BA01FF\" \/><stop offset=\"1\" stop-color=\"#0250D9\" \/><\/linearGradient><\/defs><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways-content\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__content\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>AI literacy involves understanding how to effectively and ethically apply artificial intelligence tools across sales, service, commerce, and marketing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Practical application of AI, like prompt engineering and starting with service\/sales automation, allows agile small businesses to immediately realise value and compete with larger companies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build your team&#8217;s foundational AI knowledge and skills for free using interactive modules on <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/\">Trailhead<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<footer class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-key-takeaways__footer\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThis summary was created with AI and reviewed by an editor.\t\t\t\t<\/footer>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>As you\u2019re reading this, the wave of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/artificial-intelligence\/\">artificial intelligence (AI)<\/a> is weaving its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/agentforce\/what-is-agentic-ai\/\">agentic layer<\/a> into just about every business, everywhere. Many business leaders recognise the potential \u2014 in fact, \u200ca Salesforce study found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/blog\/ai-enterprise-for-small-business\/\">71% of small business owners believe AI will save their company time in the next year\u200c<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is, knowing where to start can be daunting. But AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it\u2019s a practical tool that can be integrated into the portfolio you use every day, especially when paired with a reliable <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/crm\/what-is-crm\/\">customer relationship management (CRM)<\/a> platform. Gaining AI literacy\u200c \u2014 \u200cunderstanding what AI is, how it works, and how to apply it responsibly \u2014 is the most important next step for your small business. This guide will walk you through the steps to build your team&#8217;s AI literacy toward confident growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-ai-literacy-and-why-does-your-smb-need-it\">What is AI literacy and why does your SMB need it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The term AI literacy simply means learning the basic knowledge and set of skills that enable you to effectively and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/developing-ethical-ai\/\">ethically<\/a> interact with artificial intelligence tools. For an SMB, it means moving beyond hearing about AI to actively understanding its application in your daily operations across sales, service, and marketing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A key finding from Salesforce shows that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/smbs-ai-trends-2025\/\">76% of SMBs are already planning to use AI or are actively using it<\/a>, which means that being literate in AI is quickly becoming a competitive necessity, not just a trend.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding the fundamentals of AI<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To build your AI literacy foundation, it\u2019s important to understand what AI actually is. At its core, AI is a set of technologies that allow computers to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. Two things to remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>AI is built on high-quality data<\/strong>: The quality of your data directly impacts the effectiveness of your AI tools. A robust platform like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/small-business\/\">CRM for small business<\/a> ensures your AI has a clean, unified view of your customer to draw insights from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>It\u2019s about augmentation, not replacement<\/strong>: AI tools are designed to assist and enhance your team&#8217;s capabilities, freeing them up to focus on higher-value tasks that require creativity and human connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Automation is the new workday<\/strong>: For a startup, AI applications can look like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/service\/what-is-automated-customer-service\/\">automating routine customer service responses<\/a>, predicting which leads are most likely to close, or generating personalised email subject lines for marketing campaigns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer\">\n\t<div>\n\t\t\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-salesforce-blog-section-heading\">\n\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-section-heading__title\">\n\t\t\t\tSection Title\t<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer__featured-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/agentforce-in-salesforce-suites\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png 1600w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=768&amp;h=430 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=1024&amp;h=573 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=1536&amp;h=860 1536w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/image_11f6a3.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"Illustration of Astro and Agentforce for Salesforce Suites with AI on a purple background.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\tAgentforce for Small Business is Now Built Into Salesforce Suites\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer__supporting-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/how-agentforce-is-helping-small-business\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp 1500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp?w=768&amp;h=432 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp?w=1024&amp;h=576 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/03\/6-Ways-Agentforce-is-Helping-SMB-and-Startups.webp?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"6 Ways Agentforce is Helping SMB and Startups\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\t6 Ways Agentforce 360 is Helping Small Businesses and Startups\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/best-apps-for-startups\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg?w=300&amp;h=168 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg?w=768&amp;h=431 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg?w=1024&amp;h=574 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/07\/Apps-for-Startups-SMB.jpg?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" alt=\"Illustration showcasing applications in a digital space for SMBs to choose from in neon colors.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\t14 Apps for Startups and Small Businesses to Scale Fast\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/predictions-asean-businesses-2026\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__link \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__image\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"img-object-fit\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg?w=300\" sizes=\"100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg?w=300&amp;h=164 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg?w=768&amp;h=419 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg?w=1024&amp;h=559 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/2026-predictions-six-trends-shaping-the-future-of-asean-businesses.jpg?w=150&amp;h=82 150w\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/span>\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-salesforce-blog-multi-offer-card__title\">\n\t\t\t2026 Predictions: Six Trends Shaping the Future of ASEAN Businesses\t\t<\/h4>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Focusing on practical, immediate application<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Small businesses and startups have a huge advantage: They&#8217;re <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/content\/learn\/trails\/learn-salesforce-agile-practices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">agile<\/a>. You don&#8217;t need a large-scale deployment to see value. You can start small, and work your way up to bigger workflows. Here are a few ways to implement AI now, to begin seeing immediate results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For sales<\/strong>, AI can help you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/marketing\/lead-generation-guide\/\">score leads<\/a>, predict future purchases, and personalise marketing content. This level of insight allows small teams to execute campaigns that rival those of much larger companies, driving efficiency in both marketing and sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For marketing<\/strong>, AI can help your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/marketing\/email\/campaigns\/\">email campaigns<\/a> with smart segmenting, crafting and templates, allowing your campaigns to get into more inboxes. Marketing employee agents help to sort through promotional campaign data to highlight the best possible next drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For service<\/strong>, perhaps try AI to instantly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/artificial-intelligence\/use-cases\/find-and-summarize-similar-cases\/\">summarise customer service cases<\/a> or draft personalised follow-up emails for your sales team. Use AI to route customer inquiries or provide agents with suggested responses instantly improves efficiency and customer satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>For all business<\/strong>, just get going. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/advice-from-an-evp-for-small-business\/\">Adam Alfano, EVP of Global SMB and Emerging Products<\/a> stated, \u201cJust get going. There\u2019s a big promise of massive growth which gives SMBs new optionality to scale that didn\u2019t exist five years ago.\u201d That means whatever AI speaks to you, get moving on it. Learn it, understand it, and scale with it. Let it help <em>you<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-six wp-block-salesforce-blog-offer\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__wrapper\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__content\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-offer__title\">Kickstart your SMB with Starter Suite<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-offer__description\">See results from day one with a CRM designed for SMBs \u2014 the all-in-one suite for productivity. It all starts with Starter Suite.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/small-business\/free-trial\/starter-suite-v2\/\">Try it for free<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__media\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png 1268w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png?w=300&amp;h=169 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png?w=768&amp;h=432 768w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png?w=1024&amp;h=577 1024w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/12\/Salesforce-free-suite.png?w=150&amp;h=84 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical steps to grow your team\u2019s AI knowledge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Developing AI literacy doesn&#8217;t require hiring more staff. It&#8217;s about empowering your existing team with the right tools and training to use AI confidently and responsibly. Since small businesses are often strapped for time and resources, this training should be directly applicable to day-to-day work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of abstract lectures, focus on hands-on learning within the tools your team already uses, especially your CRM. When your sales rep learns how an AI feature scores leads, they&#8217;re immediately seeing the value and practical application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trailhead-a-great-ai-resource\">Trailhead: A great AI resource<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Salesforce offers <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trailhead<\/a>, a platform with interactive, guided paths to learn about new technologies, including AI, in bite-sized modules. Encourage your team to dedicate a few minutes each week to a module on AI prompts or ethical use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-become-an-ai-champion\"><strong>Become an AI champion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Identify one person in each department\u200c \u2014 \u200csales, service, marketing\u200c \u2014 \u200cto become the in-house expert on all things AI. This <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/content\/learn\/trails\/become-an-agentblazer-champion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">AI champion<\/a> can be the first to test new features, share success stories, and train peers, making the learning process organic and peer-driven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-astro-2 wp-block-salesforce-blog-related-trail\">\n\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"related-trail__illustration related-trail__cloud\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/related-trail-cloud-layout-astro-2.png\" alt=\"\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__illustration related-trail__contour\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"related-trail__illustration related-trail__background\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/related-trail-background-layout-astro-2.png\" alt=\"\">\n\n\t<div class=\"related-trail__wrapper\">\n\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__content\">\n\t\t\t\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 345.8 82.8\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"related-trail__logo\"><path fill=\"#1d3767\" d=\"M96.6 33h9v22.6h4.8V33h8.8v-4.3H96.6zm49.8 5.3c0-5.7-3.6-9.6-10.8-9.6H127v27h4.8v-7.9h3l2.3-.1 5.7 8h5.6l-7-9.2c3.4-1.6 5-4.5 5-8.2m-11.1 5.3h-3.6V33h3.6c4.4 0 6 2.3 6 5.3s-1.6 5.3-6 5.3m30.8-15.2-12.6 27.2h5l2.3-5.3h11.6l2.4 5.3h5l-12.6-27.1zm-3.6 18 4.1-9.2 4.1 9.3zm25.2-17.7h4.8v27h-4.8zm20.7 0h-4.8v27h17.6v-4.4h-12.8zm38.4 12.1h-13.2V28.7H229v27h4.7V45h13.2v10.6h4.7V28.7h-4.7zm15.9 14.8h17.5v-4.4h-12.7v-6.4H279v-4.2h-11.5v-7.5h12.7v-4.4h-17.5zm36.9-27.2L287 55.6h5l2.3-5.3H306l2.4 5.3h5l-12.6-27.1zm-3.6 18 4.1-9.2 4.1 9.3zm35.4-17.7h-10.2v27h10.2c8.2 0 14.4-5.9 14.4-13.6s-6-13.4-14.4-13.4m0 22.6H326V33h5.4a9.1 9.1 0 1 1 0 18.1z\" \/><path fill=\"#1d315f\" d=\"M43 82.8h.1a74 74 0 0 0 38.5-12.3 3 3 0 0 0 1.3-2.4v-6A66.2 66.2 0 0 0 42.5.2a3 3 0 0 0-2.3 0A66.2 66.2 0 0 0 0 62.2V68a3 3 0 0 0 1.2 2.4 74 74 0 0 0 40.2 12.4z\" \/><path fill=\"#8ed1f4\" d=\"M13.8 51.8a.3.3 0 0 0 0-.1L33 23.6a3.1 3.1 0 0 1 .8-.8 3 3 0 0 1 4 .8l9.5 13.8 3.5-5a3 3 0 0 1 4.9 0L69 51.6a.3.3 0 0 1 .1.3h7C70.7 17.7 43.7 7.2 41.4 6.2c0 0-11.2 4-21.2 16A59.6 59.6 0 0 0 6.8 51.8zm21.7-21.3\" \/><path fill=\"#aa76b3\" d=\"m62 51.9-8.7-12.6-4.2 6.1 4.8 6.4z\" \/><path fill=\"#722a87\" d=\"m49 45.4-4.4 6.4H54z\" \/><path fill=\"#8ed1f4\" d=\"m37 32.6-1.5-2.1z\" \/><path fill=\"#aa76b3\" d=\"m28 41.4 7.6 10.4h1.8l6.4-9.2-6.8-10-1.5-2.1z\" \/><path fill=\"#722a87\" d=\"m28 41.4-7 10.4h14.6z\" \/><path fill=\"#069a49\" d=\"M43.8 72.5a1.8 1.8 0 0 0-1-2.4L40.1 69a8 8 0 0 1-1-.5 7.8 7.8 0 0 1-2.4-10.7H6a44 44 0 0 0-.2 4.4v4.4A70 70 0 0 0 26 75a70 70 0 0 0 15.2 2l2.4-4.3zm33-14.8H44.3l-2.5 3a1.7 1.7 0 0 0-.2.5 1.8 1.8 0 0 0 1 2.3l2.7 1.2.7.4a7.8 7.8 0 0 1 3 10.6l-.5.9 4.8-.8a71 71 0 0 0 8.4-2.2l1.3-.4a71 71 0 0 0 14-6.7v-8.8z\" \/><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"m46 65-.7-.3-2.7-1.2a1.8 1.8 0 0 1-1-2.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 .2-.4l2.5-3h-7.6A7.8 7.8 0 0 0 39 68.4a8 8 0 0 0 1 .5l2.7 1.2a1.8 1.8 0 0 1 1 2.4l-.1.2-2.5 4.3a52.5 52.5 0 0 0 7.2-.4l.5-.9A7.8 7.8 0 0 0 46 65.1z\" \/><path fill=\"#157139\" d=\"M56.9 67.3h8.8l-4.4-5zM23 71h9l-4.5-5.1zm-4.1-10.4-4.5 5h8.9z\" \/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-related-trail__title\">Trailhead:\u00a0<strong>Salesforce for Small Business<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\t<p>Learn how your business can benefit from this out-of-the-box CRM.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/content\/learn\/modules\/salesforce-essentials-small-business\/?d=bcta&amp;_ga=2.141769850.977363702.1775442691-1732961129.1774518847\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Visit Trail<\/a><\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__mock\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__points\">+200 points<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__eyebrow\">Trail<\/div>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"related-trail__trail-title h3\"><strong>Salesforce for Small Business<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"related-trail__trail-description\">Learn the ways of this trail.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__actions\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__action\">\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 10 10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"#747474\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"m4.93.69.88 2.88c.04.12.16.18.27.18h2.89c.29 0 .4.38.17.56L6.79 6.04c-.1.07-.13.2-.1.32l1.12 2.96c.08.27-.2.5-.44.33L4.85 7.77c-.1-.08-.23-.08-.34 0L1.97 9.65a.29.29 0 0 1-.45-.33L2.6 6.36a.3.3 0 0 0-.1-.32L.17 4.3c-.23-.18-.1-.56.17-.56h2.89c.13 0 .23-.04.27-.18l.9-2.9c.08-.27.46-.25.54.02Z\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"related-trail__action\">\n<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill=\"#747474\" d=\"M4.16 4.5.26 0h7.8z\" \/><\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"related-trail__illustration related-trail__foreground\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/related-trail-foreground-layout-astro-2.png\" alt=\"\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"related-trail__illustration related-trail__parks\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/related-trail-parks-layout-astro-2.png\" alt=\"\">\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Master the art of the AI prompt<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The effectiveness of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/artificial-intelligence\/what-is-generative-ai\/\">generative AI<\/a> tools depends on the quality of the input, or the prompt. Your team needs to learn how to ask AI the right questions to get the most useful output. A study from Salesforce found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/generative-ai-statistics\/\">77% of SMBs plan to use generative AI for tasks like writing emails or generating content<\/a>. Effective prompting skills are essential to capitalise on this, and greatly increase literacy in AI fundamentals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be clear and specific<\/strong>: You are training the AI. Instead of &#8220;Write a follow-up email,&#8221; prompt the AI with: &#8220;Write a follow-up email to a lead who downloaded our e-book, mentioning two benefits of Salesforce&#8217;s Starter Suite, and include a 10% discount, using a friendly and upbeat tone.&#8221; <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Focus on business outcomes<\/strong>: Train your team to prompt AI based on a desired business result. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/ai-prompts-for-small-business-service\/\">a service agent could use these tips<\/a> to summarise a complex case history for a faster resolution. Try inputting the solution to find the problem.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Train, train and train again<\/strong>: Every time the AI response does not put out what you requested, take the time to ask it again for the correct one. Explain why it was not what you wanted (if you have the time). <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-six wp-block-salesforce-blog-offer\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__wrapper\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__content\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-offer__title\">Grow Your Small Business With AI Agents<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-offer__description\">Learn how autonomous AI can scale your small business for efficient growth in our free e-book.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/form\/small-business\/smbs-grow-with-agentforce\/\">Get it now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__media\">\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"621\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/grow-your-small-business-with-ai-agents.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"grow your small business with ai agents\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/grow-your-small-business-with-ai-agents.webp 621w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/grow-your-small-business-with-ai-agents.webp?w=300&amp;h=209 300w, https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2025\/04\/grow-your-small-business-with-ai-agents.webp?w=150&amp;h=104 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" \/>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-safety-first-using-ai-for-secure-business-growth\">Safety first: Using AI for secure business growth<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>AI literacy goes beyond knowing how to use a tool; it includes understanding the ethical and security implications. For a small business, <a href=\"https:\/\/help.salesforce.com\/s\/articleView?id=000385172&amp;language=en_US&amp;type=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">protecting customer data<\/a> and maintaining trust are non-negotiable. Using AI responsibly means prioritising <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/content\/learn\/modules\/data_security\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">data security<\/a> and transparency.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-prioritise-ethical-ai-and-data-security\">Prioritise ethical AI and data security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When choosing AI tools, ensure they have strong guardrails to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/platform\/data-backup-recovery\/what-is-data-protection\/\">protect your customer&#8217;s data<\/a>. Tools built directly into a secure CRM automatically inherit those security and privacy standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, never input sensitive data. Train your team that customer-identifying information should never be manually entered into public-facing AI tools. When using AI within your CRM, the data is typically secured and masked to maintain privacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, review and verify all AI output. A core component of AI literacy is critical thinking. AI output should be treated as a draft. Every email, report, or summary generated by AI must be reviewed by a human for accuracy, tone, and compliance before it&#8217;s used or sent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"layout-three wp-block-salesforce-blog-offer\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__wrapper\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__content\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"wp-block-offer__title\"><br>Data 360 is here<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-offer__description\">Level up your business by transforming scattered data into actionable insights.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"wp-block-button__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/data\/\">Talk to an expert<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-offer__graphics wp-block-offer__contour\"><\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<!-- Standard Illustration -->\n\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-offer__graphics wp-block-offer__illustration\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/offer-block\/offer-illustration-layout-three.png\" alt=\"\">\n\n\t\t<!-- Small Accent Illustration -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-block-offer__graphics wp-block-offer__accent\" src=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/salesforce-blog\/dist\/images\/offer-block\/offer-accent-layout-three.png\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Left Side Illustration -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<!-- Cloud Illustration -->\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-it-s-your-ai-literacy-journey-nbsp-make-it-count\">It\u2019s your AI literacy journey \u2014&nbsp;make it count<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The journey to AI literacy for your startup or small business is less about a destination and more about a process of learning. By focusing on practical application, responsible use, and training, you can turn the uncertainty of AI into a competitive advantage. AI is built directly into the tools you use every day, ready to help you save time and grow smarter. Keep the momentum going on <a href=\"https:\/\/trailhead.salesforce.com\/content\/learn\/trails\/get-started-with-ai-data\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Trailhead<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And when you\u2019re ready, start your journey with the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/crm\/free-crm\/\">Free<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/form\/signup\/freetrial-salesforce-starter\/?d=bcta\">Starter Suite<\/a>\u00a0today. Looking for more customisation? Explore\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/small-business\/pro-suite\/\">Pro Suite<\/a>. Already a Salesforce customer? Activate\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/crm\/foundations\/\">Foundations<\/a>\u00a0to try out\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/platform\/agentforce-platform\/\">Agentforce 360<\/a>\u00a0today.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>AI supported the writers and editors who created this article.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-faqs\">Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"accordion \">\n\t\n\n<button class=\"accordion-header\" type=\"button\">What is the difference between AI literacy and technical AI expertise?<\/button>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\n\n<p>AI literacy is the functional knowledge required to use AI tools effectively, ethically, and strategically in your business. It&#8217;s for everyone on the team. Technical AI expertise involves the ability to build and maintain AI models (data scientists, machine learning engineers) and is typically not required for small businesses to start benefiting from AI.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"accordion-header\" type=\"button\">Is AI expensive for a small business or startup?<\/button>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\n\n<p>Not necessarily. Many AI capabilities are now integrated directly into small business tools, such as CRM platforms like Salesforce Starter Suite, often with a clear, subscription-based cost model. You can start with basic AI-powered features (like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/lead-scoring\/\">lead scoring<\/a> or automated summaries) without needing a massive upfront investment.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"accordion-header\" type=\"button\">How long does it take for a small business to see value from using AI?<\/button>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\n\n<p>Small businesses are often able to see immediate value, especially when starting with AI in customer service or sales enablement. Automating repetitive tasks, like drafting follow-up emails or summarising case notes, can save employees time and improve efficiency from day one.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"accordion-header\" type=\"button\">What is &#8220;prompt engineering&#8221; and why does my team need it?<\/button>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\n\n<p>Prompt engineering is the skill of crafting clear, specific instructions, or prompts, to get the best, most relevant output from a generative AI tool. Your team needs it because the quality of the AI&#8217;s answer is directly proportional to the quality of the prompt, ensuring your AI-generated content is useful and accurate for your business needs.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<button class=\"accordion-header\" type=\"button\">Does using AI mean I have to worry about losing my customer data?<\/button>\n<div class=\"accordion-content\">\n\t\n\n<p>When you use public-facing AI tools, there can be data risks. However, using AI that is natively built into a secure, trusted platform like an AI CRM (like Salesforce) provides built-in security and ethical guardrails designed to protect your customer data and ensure privacy.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div> <!-- \/.accordion -->\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to apply AI to your business with these literacy tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":695,"featured_media":11654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sf_justforyou_enable_alt":true,"optimizely_content_id":"6939b5467529ebfe2508a237AP","post_meta_title":"","ai_synopsis":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"sf_topic":[23,77,482,26,214],"sf_content_type":[],"coauthors":[845],"class_list":["post-11655","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sf_topic-artificial-intelligence","sf_topic-best-practices","sf_topic-generative-ai","sf_topic-small-business","sf_topic-startups"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>AI Literacy For Startups and Small Businesses: Applications + Tips - Salesforce<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how to understand artificial intelligence tools and how they apply to your business (stick around to the end for tips and tools).\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/ai-literacy-for-small-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"AI Literacy For Startups and Small Businesses: Applications + Tips\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how to understand artificial intelligence tools and how they apply to your business (stick around to the end for tips and tools).\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/ai-literacy-for-small-business\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Salesforce\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T07:57:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-06T07:58:30+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/ap\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2026\/01\/AI-Literacy-SMB-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kavea S. Abhishek\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kavea S. 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