More than 30 local small businesses gathered at the Annenberg Community Beach House on Aug. 28 for a free workshop aimed at teaching entrepreneurs how to put artificial intelligence to work in their day-to-day operations.
The two-hour session was the final stop of Grow with Google's "Make AI Work for You" tour, a series of small-business workshops the company hosted along Route 66 in honor of the highway's centennial. The Santa Monica event was held in partnership with Downtown Santa Monica, the City of Santa Monica and GO-Biz.
"We were pleased with our turnout of more than 30 local small businesses in attendance," a Google spokesperson said.
The morning focused on practical, hands-on instruction rather than theory. Attendees worked through a session titled "Prompt like a Pro" and tested a range of the company's free tools alongside product experts.
"During the two-hour Santa Monica event, attendees participated in a workshop called 'Prompt like a Pro,' detailing tips and tricks for getting the most out of AI," the spokesperson said. "Attendees also learned how to master Google's no-cost AI tools — from the Gemini App and Gemini Notebook, to AI features embedded directly into Google Workspace — through deep-dives and hands-on tutorials with product experts."
The workshop was pitched to business owners at any level of experience. Organizers said newcomers could expect to leave with a working foundation, while more experienced users would still pick up new techniques.
Although the sessions highlighted Google's own products, the company said the curriculum was built to teach skills that apply across any AI tool, not just its own.
"'Make AI Work for You' is a course designed specifically to help SMBs use AI to get more done and grow their businesses," the spokesperson said. "The workshop is designed to teach foundational, practical AI skills that apply across any tool. We start by showing small business owners how to interact with AI in everyday language, focusing on how to write effective prompts, evaluate results, and use AI as a brainstorming partner."
The company said it also demonstrated how owners can apply those concepts using accessible, no-cost tools such as the Gemini App and Gemini Notebook, and how AI features can streamline routine tasks inside Google Workspace.
For business owners who could not attend the Santa Monica stop or any of the tour's earlier dates, Grow with Google said the same training resources, guides and courses are available on demand at grow.google/smb. The company positioned the free materials as a way for owners to keep building skills on their own schedule after the road tour wrapped.
The event also landed at a moment when many Los Angeles-area businesses are still rebuilding. Google said its outreach to small businesses recovering from the region's wildfires has centered on long-term resilience, not just reopening.
Last year, the company partnered with the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity to host the "Rebuild LA: Small Business Tech Fair," which brought together more than 120 local entrepreneurs affected by the fires. Google said the tools and resources from that event remain available to any small business owner — whether recovering from a crisis or simply looking to modernize — through the same grow.google/smb hub used for the workshop series.
The company framed AI adoption as part of a broader shift already underway among California businesses. Google's 2025 Economic Impact Report found that 2.2 million businesses in the state used the company's tools to connect with customers. Among the local examples the company cited was Santa Monica-based nēdl.
Friday's workshop was free to attend, and the company provided complimentary parking along with light food and refreshments. Participants were encouraged to bring a laptop to follow along with the hands-on tutorials.
The Annenberg Community Beach House, where the event was held, sits at 415 Pacific Coast Highway.
The Santa Monica stop closed out the Route 66 centennial tour, but the company said its training resources, guides and courses will remain freely accessible on demand to owners who want to keep learning.
More information and on-demand resources are available at grow.google/smb.