Artificial Intelligence is transforming how businesses market, sell, serve customers, and operate. Yet for many small and medium businesses, AI can feel complex, technical, or out of reach, and the main challenge is not building AI systems, but understanding where AI meaningfully fits.
This course is designed to build practical AI literacy for small and medium-sized business leaders by introducing the essentials of artificial intelligence and guiding participants in developing a thoughtful, responsible AI strategy tailored to their organization.
Delivered by WatSPEED at the University of Waterloo and an anchor partner of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) AI Hub, this course connects academic expertise, industry insight, and real-world application in the Canadian business context.
Participants begin by learning what AI is, how it works at a foundational level, and how it is influencing industries through automation, data-informed insights, and enhanced customer experiences. Key concepts are clarified, common myths are addressed, and real Canadian examples are highlighted to build confidence and understanding. Participants then explore how to recognize high-value AI opportunities within their organizations and consider practical frameworks that support ethical, transparent, and sustainable AI adoption.
By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make informed decisions, pilot AI solutions, and approach integrating AI into their business operations with clarity and purpose.
Highlights
- AI fundamentals for SMBs: Understand what AI is and how it creates business value — no jargon, no technical prerequisites, designed for leaders, not engineers.
- Practical SMB-focused use cases: Identify real, high-impact AI opportunities to improve personalization, efficiency, and decision-making.
- Canadian business context: Learn through Canadian data, case studies, government programs, and regulatory considerations.
- Enterprise-grade strategy, scoped for SMBs: Apply a proven AI implementation framework tailored to small and medium-sized businesses.
- Responsible and transparent adoption: Navigate bias, data privacy, compliance, and governance with confidence while leading responsible change.
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Immediate, actionable roadmap: Use AI strategy worksheets to map your first use case and build a high-level rollout plan aligned to your business goals.
What you will learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Build AI business literacy and value: Build practical AI literacy and understand how AI can create real value for SMBs in various industries.
- Identify high-value opportunities: Recognize where AI can add value across customer engagement, operations, and strategy to address unique SMB challenges.
- Evaluate tools and vendors confidently: Assess AI solutions based on business fit, impact, and risk.
- Develop an AI strategy aligned to business goals: Develop a clear, step-by-step AI roadmap tailored to your organization’s goals and readiness.
- Lead responsible adoption: Integrate transparency, ethical safeguards, and strong change management into your AI rollout plans for sustainable implementation.
Who should enrol
- Canadian SMB founders, owners, executives, and managers looking to understand how AI can create practical business value.
- Leaders at the beginning of their AI journey who want clear explanations, practical examples, and supportive, structured first steps to build confidence.
- Professionals focused on growth and efficiency who are seeking to improve operations, enhance customer engagement, and stay competitive using AI.
- Teams responsible for implementation and governance who need guidance on ethical, transparent, and responsible AI adoption.
Prerequisite: There is no technical background required to participate in this course. It is designed for leaders who are new to AI and ready to build a foundational understanding.
Learn alongside your team!
WatSPEED provides custom learning experiences tailored for large groups from any single organization.
Partner with us to create custom educational content that will equip your team with the skills and knowledge to maintain a competitive edge. We will develop professional education built specifically for your organization to facilitate meaningful and lasting outcomes.
Learn more about custom offers or contact our team at watspeed@uwaterloo.ca for details.
Benefits for organizations
- Align AI with business strategy to drive measurable impact and long-term growth.
- Streamline operations and reduce manual workload by identifying high-value automation opportunities.
- Strengthen decision-making with AI-generated insights that support planning, forecasting, and performance improvement.
- Adopt AI responsibly and confidently by addressing privacy, compliance, and governance from the start.
- Build organizational confidence in AI to improve stakeholder buy-in and support successful implementation.
- Accelerate innovation and competitiveness by moving from exploration to actionable pilot projects with a clear rollout plan.
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