[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":458},["ShallowReactive",2],{"header":3,"footer":32,"footer-cities":56,"content-\u002Fnews\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses":237},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":10,"extension":13,"links":14,"meta":26,"navigation":27,"path":28,"seo":29,"stem":30,"__hash__":31},"header\u002Fheader.md","Central Valley AI",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":9},"minimark",[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":12},"",2,[],"md",[15,20],{"label":16,"to":17,"icon":19},"News",{"path":18},"\u002Fnews\u002F","mdi-newspaper-variant-outline",{"label":21,"to":22,"icon":25},"Contact",{"path":23,"hash":24},"\u002F","#contact","mdi-email-outline",{},true,"\u002Fheader",{"title":5,"description":10},"header","CcnlvU-MIELm1QjRt6-8EIWzffq9TShbzfGuB7P8caE",{"id":33,"title":34,"body":35,"copyright":39,"description":10,"developedBy":40,"extension":13,"links":46,"meta":51,"navigation":27,"path":52,"seo":53,"stem":54,"__hash__":55},"footer\u002Ffooter.md","Footer",{"type":7,"value":36,"toc":37},[],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":38},[],"© {year} All rights reserved.",{"label":41,"link":42},"Developed by",{"label":43,"to":44,"target":45},"Kaweah Tech","https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech","_blank",[47,48],{"label":16,"to":18},{"label":49,"to":50},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy-policy\u002F",{},"\u002Ffooter",{"description":10},"footer","hsL9eJ4YEacLAdbs9C023GtZ9cLz07zVbmRn545fjvk",[57,87,125,156,183,210],{"id":58,"title":59,"body":60,"county":79,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":80,"meta":81,"navigation":27,"path":82,"seo":83,"stem":84,"tag":85,"__hash__":86},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield.md","Bakersfield",{"type":7,"value":61,"toc":76},[62,67],[63,64,66],"h2",{"id":65},"ai-in-bakersfield","AI in Bakersfield",[68,69,70,71,75],"p",{},"Bakersfield's AI conversation sits at the intersection of municipal government, the ",[72,73,74],"strong",{},"California State University Bakersfield"," community, and the energy and ag operators that drive Kern County's economy. The city was an early mover on AI-assisted permitting and has been a recurring backdrop for parent- and teacher-led debates about classroom AI use. Articles below follow specific Bakersfield initiatives, public-meeting decisions, and Kern County workforce stories — and how they reflect national AI trends from a regional vantage point.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":77},[78],{"id":65,"depth":11,"text":66},"Kern County","Bakersfield and the surrounding Kern County are home to some of the most concrete AI-in-government experiments in the Central Valley, from instant municipal permitting to school-district debates about classroom AI. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is reshaping public services, education, and the energy and agriculture economies that dominate the region.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fbakersfield",{"title":59,"description":10},"cities\u002Fbakersfield","bakersfield","ozFL4HvDA_g7UrRE1mHbKqcS-vDLwbiH9JWVh3rB2Ac",{"id":88,"title":89,"body":90,"county":117,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":118,"meta":119,"navigation":27,"path":120,"seo":121,"stem":122,"tag":123,"__hash__":124},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno.md","Fresno",{"type":7,"value":91,"toc":114},[92,96,111],[63,93,95],{"id":94},"ai-in-fresno","AI in Fresno",[68,97,98,99,102,103,106,107,110],{},"Fresno's AI story spans several distinct ecosystems. ",[72,100,101],{},"Fresno State"," and the ",[72,104,105],{},"California State University"," system anchor a workforce-readiness push, while local ",[72,108,109],{},"Fresno Unified School District"," debates around responsible use have made the city a recurring reference point in California's K-12 AI conversation. The city's economic base in agriculture, healthcare, and public services means most AI adoption stories here are about applied uses rather than model development — a different posture than coastal tech hubs but arguably more consequential for the people living here.",[68,112,113],{},"Use the articles below to follow how AI is showing up in Fresno-area institutions and businesses.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":115},[116],{"id":94,"depth":11,"text":95},"Fresno County","Fresno is the largest city in California's Central Valley and the regional center for AI adoption across agriculture, healthcare, higher education, and small business. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being applied — and contested — in and around the city of Fresno and Fresno County.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Ffresno",{"title":89,"description":10},"cities\u002Ffresno","fresno","gOL2xk8y9t9OV6PPxP02OjYhZFHC_Cg-VGijh_V93dI",{"id":126,"title":127,"body":128,"county":148,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":149,"meta":150,"navigation":27,"path":151,"seo":152,"stem":153,"tag":154,"__hash__":155},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced.md","Merced",{"type":7,"value":129,"toc":145},[130,134],[63,131,133],{"id":132},"ai-in-merced","AI in Merced",[68,135,136,137,140,141,144],{},"Merced is a research-heavy node in the Central Valley AI ecosystem. ",[72,138,139],{},"UC Merced"," faculty appear in national conversations about AI safety, autonomous vehicles, climate modeling, and pediatric health applications, while the ",[72,142,143],{},"Merced Unified School District"," and surrounding county institutions navigate the same K-12 and workforce questions the rest of the Valley faces. The articles below cover both the campus research story and the broader applied uses around the city and county.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":146},[147],{"id":132,"depth":11,"text":133},"Merced County","Merced punches above its weight in AI research, anchored by UC Merced — a leading West Coast hub for AI in agriculture, climate, autonomous systems, and health. Coverage on this page tracks both academic research coming out of the campus and how AI is showing up across Merced's schools, businesses, and county institutions.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmerced",{"title":127,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmerced","merced","pSWWlEzMdcv2_RZrUKdkEHU3bixNboePGdHbSdd1m34",{"id":157,"title":158,"body":159,"county":175,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":176,"meta":177,"navigation":27,"path":178,"seo":179,"stem":180,"tag":181,"__hash__":182},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto.md","Modesto",{"type":7,"value":160,"toc":172},[161,165],[63,162,164],{"id":163},"ai-in-modesto","AI in Modesto",[68,166,167,168,171],{},"Modesto's AI conversation tends to combine ag-tech adoption stories with workforce-readiness questions for the city's small and mid-sized employers. ",[72,169,170],{},"CSU Stanislaus"," and the regional community college network shape the higher-ed angle. Coverage below follows Modesto-area AI announcements and the wider Stanislaus County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":173},[174],{"id":163,"depth":11,"text":164},"Stanislaus County","Modesto and Stanislaus County sit between the Bay Area and the southern Valley, and their AI story reflects that bridging role — from agriculture and food processing to the **California State University Stanislaus** community to small businesses adapting to AI-driven changes in marketing, hiring, and operations.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fmodesto",{"title":158,"description":10},"cities\u002Fmodesto","modesto","l75Dc40MX8wTb4lD088Yx9we4ypuDwmcvE-uEdqqREc",{"id":184,"title":185,"body":186,"county":202,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":203,"meta":204,"navigation":27,"path":205,"seo":206,"stem":207,"tag":208,"__hash__":209},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton.md","Stockton",{"type":7,"value":187,"toc":199},[188,192],[63,189,191],{"id":190},"ai-in-stockton","AI in Stockton",[68,193,194,195,198],{},"Stockton's economic base in logistics, healthcare, and higher education gives the city a different AI profile than the southern Valley. ",[72,196,197],{},"University of the Pacific"," anchors the academic conversation, while San Joaquin County government, hospitals, and warehouse operators are navigating practical adoption questions: cost, training, security, workforce impact. The articles below track Stockton-area AI announcements and the broader San Joaquin County context.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":200},[201],{"id":190,"depth":11,"text":191},"San Joaquin County","Stockton and San Joaquin County sit at the northern edge of the Central Valley, where logistics, healthcare, and the University of the Pacific shape the local AI adoption story. Coverage on this page follows how AI is being put to work — and questioned — across San Joaquin County's institutions, employers, and public services.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fstockton",{"title":185,"description":10},"cities\u002Fstockton","stockton","TYEBK9akp2HbpAFmYY67FeKt7Rs7L8tvtYeQBtgJAHw",{"id":211,"title":212,"body":213,"county":229,"description":10,"extension":13,"intro":230,"meta":231,"navigation":27,"path":232,"seo":233,"stem":234,"tag":235,"__hash__":236},"cities\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia.md","Visalia",{"type":7,"value":214,"toc":226},[215,219],[63,216,218],{"id":217},"ai-in-visalia","AI in Visalia",[68,220,221,222,225],{},"Visalia's AI footprint is grounded in the practical adoption stories that come with a Tulare County economy built around agriculture, food processing, and rural healthcare. ",[72,223,224],{},"College of the Sequoias"," and the surrounding K-12 districts anchor the education conversation. The articles below cover Visalia-area AI developments and the Tulare County context, with a focus on applied uses rather than research or model development.",{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":227},[228],{"id":217,"depth":11,"text":218},"Tulare County","Visalia is the largest city in Tulare County and a center for agriculture, healthcare, and county-government services in the southern Central Valley. Coverage on this page tracks how AI is being adopted across Tulare County's schools, hospitals, ag operations, and small business community.",{},"\u002Fcities\u002Fvisalia",{"title":212,"description":10},"cities\u002Fvisalia","visalia","gN4g7aAl-cqD4FfSTgtTAarltUoKLh8NFlPzCbZngqU",{"id":238,"title":239,"archived":240,"author":241,"body":242,"date":446,"dateModified":446,"description":447,"extension":13,"meta":448,"navigation":27,"path":449,"rawbody":450,"seo":451,"sitemap":452,"stem":453,"tags":454,"__hash__":457},"news\u002Fnews\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses.md","Webinar to discuss how AI can help small businesses",false,"CVAI Business Desk",{"type":7,"value":243,"toc":437},[244,248,252,267,286,290,305,312,318,321,325,341,344,348,368,371,374,378,385,388,395,399,406,409,424,427,431],[245,246,239],"h1",{"id":247},"webinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses",[63,249,251],{"id":250},"a-practical-session-for-local-entrepreneurs","A practical session for local entrepreneurs",[68,253,254,255,258,259,262,263,266],{},"A free webinar tied to ",[72,256,257],{},"CSU Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Center"," focuses on how ",[72,260,261],{},"artificial intelligence"," can be used in practical, day-to-day ways by small businesses rather than as a distant or abstract trend. The session is presented as part of the center’s long-running ",[72,264,265],{},"“Webinar Wednesday”"," series and is aimed at employers, entrepreneurs, and business owners looking for guidance on how to adopt new digital tools without unnecessary complexity.",[68,268,269,270,273,274,277,278,281,282,285],{},"The program is hosted by ",[72,271,272],{},"Kelly Bearden",", director of the ",[72,275,276],{},"Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield",", and features ",[72,279,280],{},"Justin Powers",", owner and founder of ",[72,283,284],{},"Kernville Cowork"," and an SBDC business advisor. Together, they frame the discussion around common questions small business owners are already asking: what AI can actually do, how to choose a platform, and how to tell the difference between useful automation and overhyped promises.",[63,287,289],{"id":288},"what-the-webinar-covers","What the webinar covers",[68,291,292,293,296,297,300,301,304],{},"The presentation emphasizes applied business use rather than theory. The discussion centers on how AI can support ",[72,294,295],{},"productivity",", ",[72,298,299],{},"inspiration",", and ",[72,302,303],{},"assistance"," across everyday operations. It also explores how owners can evaluate available platforms and understand where AI fits into current workflows.",[68,306,307,308,311],{},"A major theme is that AI should complement existing business practices instead of overpowering them. The session stresses the importance of protecting a company’s ",[72,309,310],{},"brand voice",", maintaining business context, and making sure customer communication still feels authentic. That is especially relevant for smaller firms that compete on trust, responsiveness, and personal relationships.",[313,314,315],"blockquote",{},[68,316,317],{},"“AI as a tool, not a replacement”",[68,319,320],{},"That message runs through the broader presentation. Rather than suggesting that software should take over decision-making, the webinar presents AI as something that can help owners and staff work more efficiently while still keeping human judgment at the center.",[63,322,324],{"id":323},"sales-marketing-and-customer-service-uses","Sales, marketing, and customer service uses",[68,326,327,328,296,331,296,334,300,337,340],{},"The session gives particular attention to areas where many small firms can see immediate results. Those include ",[72,329,330],{},"sales and marketing",[72,332,333],{},"customer relationship management",[72,335,336],{},"content creation",[72,338,339],{},"customer service",". The discussion also points to how AI is increasingly built into tools businesses may already be using, especially CRM and outreach platforms.",[68,342,343],{},"That makes the webinar relevant not only to businesses actively shopping for a new AI product, but also to owners trying to understand whether their current software already includes AI-driven features. The presentation also touches on how to recognize inquiries or outreach that may have been generated with AI, a useful skill as automated communication becomes more common in sales and marketing.",[63,345,347],{"id":346},"why-it-matters-in-bakersfield-and-the-central-valley","Why it matters in Bakersfield and the Central Valley",[68,349,350,351,353,354,357,358,361,362,364,365,367],{},"The event carries particular significance for ",[72,352,59],{}," and the wider ",[72,355,356],{},"Central Valley"," because it is rooted in a local support network for regional entrepreneurs. The ",[72,359,360],{},"CSU Bakersfield SBDC"," serves business owners in ",[72,363,79],{}," and neighboring areas, while ",[72,366,284],{}," represents a more grassroots startup and small-business hub in the Kern River Valley.",[68,369,370],{},"For a region where many businesses operate with lean staffs and limited budgets, the appeal of AI lies less in headline-grabbing innovation and more in practical efficiency. Tools that save time on writing, organizing leads, managing customer interactions, or streamlining internal work can be especially valuable for smaller firms that do not have dedicated technology teams.",[68,372,373],{},"The webinar also reflects a broader shift in the local business environment: AI is no longer being discussed only in large corporate or research settings. It is becoming part of ordinary conversations about how neighborhood businesses, service providers, and growing startups can stay competitive.",[63,375,377],{"id":376},"broader-technology-significance","Broader technology significance",[68,379,380,381,384],{},"From a technology standpoint, the session highlights an important transition in how AI is being introduced to the public. Instead of focusing on futuristic claims, it treats AI as a ",[72,382,383],{},"business utility"," that must be evaluated the same way owners would assess any other software investment: by its usefulness, fit, cost, and effect on customer relationships.",[68,386,387],{},"That matters because small businesses often face the challenge of adopting new technology without wasting money, losing their identity, or creating more work than they eliminate. By centering platform selection, integration, and tone of voice, the webinar suggests that successful AI adoption depends less on chasing the newest tool and more on understanding the business problem being solved.",[68,389,390,391,394],{},"The program also reinforces the idea that local institutions like the ",[72,392,393],{},"Small Business Development Center"," can play an important role in helping smaller companies navigate technological change. In that sense, the webinar is not just about one training session; it reflects how regional business support organizations are helping translate fast-moving tech trends into practical guidance for local employers.",[63,396,398],{"id":397},"continued-support-beyond-the-event","Continued support beyond the event",[68,400,401,402,405],{},"The webinar is presented alongside the center’s broader offer of ",[72,403,404],{},"free one-on-one consulting"," for new and existing businesses. That gives the event added importance, since attendees are not simply being introduced to AI concepts in isolation. They are also being connected to a support system that can help them decide whether, where, and how those tools make sense for their own operations.",[68,407,408],{},"For Bakersfield-area businesses, that combination of instruction and follow-up advice may be the most important takeaway. It turns AI from a vague buzzword into a set of decisions that can be tested, adapted, and aligned with local business needs.",[68,410,411],{},[412,413,414,415,417,418,423],"em",{},"Central Valley AI is produced by the ",[72,416,241],{}," team and developed by ",[419,420,43],"a",{"href":44,"rel":421},[422],"nofollow",", a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.",[425,426],"hr",{},[63,428,430],{"id":429},"source","Source",[68,432,433],{},[419,434,435],{"href":435,"rel":436},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bakersfield.com\u002Fnews\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses\u002Farticle_adcf83a1-5467-478d-aaa0-91d8100eb97d.amp.html",[422],{"title":10,"searchDepth":11,"depth":11,"links":438},[439,440,441,442,443,444,445],{"id":250,"depth":11,"text":251},{"id":288,"depth":11,"text":289},{"id":323,"depth":11,"text":324},{"id":346,"depth":11,"text":347},{"id":376,"depth":11,"text":377},{"id":397,"depth":11,"text":398},{"id":429,"depth":11,"text":430},"2026-05-19","A CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center webinar highlights practical ways small businesses can use artificial intelligence, evaluate platforms, and apply new tools while preserving their own voice and customer relationships.",{},"\u002Fnews\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses","---\ntitle: \"Webinar to discuss how AI can help small businesses\"\ndescription: \"A CSU Bakersfield Small Business Development Center webinar highlights practical ways small businesses can use artificial intelligence, evaluate platforms, and apply new tools while preserving their own voice and customer relationships.\"\ndate: 2026-05-19\ntags:\n  - technology\n  - business\n  - bakersfield\nauthor: \"CVAI Business Desk\"\ndateModified: \"2026-05-19\"\n---\n\n# Webinar to discuss how AI can help small businesses\n\n## A practical session for local entrepreneurs\n\nA free webinar tied to **CSU Bakersfield’s Small Business Development Center** focuses on how **artificial intelligence** can be used in practical, day-to-day ways by small businesses rather than as a distant or abstract trend. The session is presented as part of the center’s long-running **“Webinar Wednesday”** series and is aimed at employers, entrepreneurs, and business owners looking for guidance on how to adopt new digital tools without unnecessary complexity.\n\nThe program is hosted by **Kelly Bearden**, director of the **Small Business Development Center at CSU Bakersfield**, and features **Justin Powers**, owner and founder of **Kernville Cowork** and an SBDC business advisor. Together, they frame the discussion around common questions small business owners are already asking: what AI can actually do, how to choose a platform, and how to tell the difference between useful automation and overhyped promises.\n\n## What the webinar covers\n\nThe presentation emphasizes applied business use rather than theory. The discussion centers on how AI can support **productivity**, **inspiration**, and **assistance** across everyday operations. It also explores how owners can evaluate available platforms and understand where AI fits into current workflows.\n\nA major theme is that AI should complement existing business practices instead of overpowering them. The session stresses the importance of protecting a company’s **brand voice**, maintaining business context, and making sure customer communication still feels authentic. That is especially relevant for smaller firms that compete on trust, responsiveness, and personal relationships.\n\n> “AI as a tool, not a replacement”\n\nThat message runs through the broader presentation. Rather than suggesting that software should take over decision-making, the webinar presents AI as something that can help owners and staff work more efficiently while still keeping human judgment at the center.\n\n## Sales, marketing, and customer service uses\n\nThe session gives particular attention to areas where many small firms can see immediate results. Those include **sales and marketing**, **customer relationship management**, **content creation**, and **customer service**. The discussion also points to how AI is increasingly built into tools businesses may already be using, especially CRM and outreach platforms.\n\nThat makes the webinar relevant not only to businesses actively shopping for a new AI product, but also to owners trying to understand whether their current software already includes AI-driven features. The presentation also touches on how to recognize inquiries or outreach that may have been generated with AI, a useful skill as automated communication becomes more common in sales and marketing.\n\n## Why it matters in Bakersfield and the Central Valley\n\nThe event carries particular significance for **Bakersfield** and the wider **Central Valley** because it is rooted in a local support network for regional entrepreneurs. The **CSU Bakersfield SBDC** serves business owners in **Kern County** and neighboring areas, while **Kernville Cowork** represents a more grassroots startup and small-business hub in the Kern River Valley.\n\nFor a region where many businesses operate with lean staffs and limited budgets, the appeal of AI lies less in headline-grabbing innovation and more in practical efficiency. Tools that save time on writing, organizing leads, managing customer interactions, or streamlining internal work can be especially valuable for smaller firms that do not have dedicated technology teams.\n\nThe webinar also reflects a broader shift in the local business environment: AI is no longer being discussed only in large corporate or research settings. It is becoming part of ordinary conversations about how neighborhood businesses, service providers, and growing startups can stay competitive.\n\n## Broader technology significance\n\nFrom a technology standpoint, the session highlights an important transition in how AI is being introduced to the public. Instead of focusing on futuristic claims, it treats AI as a **business utility** that must be evaluated the same way owners would assess any other software investment: by its usefulness, fit, cost, and effect on customer relationships.\n\nThat matters because small businesses often face the challenge of adopting new technology without wasting money, losing their identity, or creating more work than they eliminate. By centering platform selection, integration, and tone of voice, the webinar suggests that successful AI adoption depends less on chasing the newest tool and more on understanding the business problem being solved.\n\nThe program also reinforces the idea that local institutions like the **Small Business Development Center** can play an important role in helping smaller companies navigate technological change. In that sense, the webinar is not just about one training session; it reflects how regional business support organizations are helping translate fast-moving tech trends into practical guidance for local employers.\n\n## Continued support beyond the event\n\nThe webinar is presented alongside the center’s broader offer of **free one-on-one consulting** for new and existing businesses. That gives the event added importance, since attendees are not simply being introduced to AI concepts in isolation. They are also being connected to a support system that can help them decide whether, where, and how those tools make sense for their own operations.\n\nFor Bakersfield-area businesses, that combination of instruction and follow-up advice may be the most important takeaway. It turns AI from a vague buzzword into a set of decisions that can be tested, adapted, and aligned with local business needs.\n\n*Central Valley AI is produced by the **CVAI Business Desk** team and developed by [Kaweah Tech](https:\u002F\u002Fkaweah.tech), a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.*\n\n---\n\n## Source\n\nhttps:\u002F\u002Fwww.bakersfield.com\u002Fnews\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses\u002Farticle_adcf83a1-5467-478d-aaa0-91d8100eb97d.amp.html\n",{"title":239,"description":447},{"loc":449},"news\u002Fwebinar-to-discuss-how-ai-can-help-small-businesses",[455,456,85],"technology","business","HK3983mUNtdqQCMJoo85KCq7q0mu2Qvndceg8Yyvh38",1779739125005]