Anthropic Targets SMEs with Workshops and Plugins for Claude

Key Takeaways

1Anthropic launches new plugins for Claude and a workshop program for small businesses

2Merchants report negative customer reactions to the use of AI

3The company advises against using Claude for banking and legal purposes, as human expertise remains necessary

4The adoption of AI by SMEs is progressing rapidly, and OpenAI also offers a dedicated program

Why it matters : SMEs represent a major part of the American economy, and their adoption of AI is a strategic issue for industry players.

Anthropic is implementing a series of workshops and trainers to accelerate the use of Claude in small businesses, while adding integrations with Shopify, Stripe, and Zoom. On the ground, merchants are reporting negative feedback from customers, and the company recommends keeping a human expert for certain tasks.

Merchants Report Criticism, and Anthropic Advises Against Banking and Legal Uses

Several small businesses using tools from Anthropic and OpenAI claim to have faced negative reactions from their clientele. In Pittsburgh, Steve Zumoff, owner of the Spork Island Trading Co. bar, says he received several one-star reviews on Google after displaying a sign designed by AI. He also mentions using ChatGPT to brainstorm interior design and compares AI to other technologies that could replace certain jobs. A café owner also reported unfavorable comments on social media regarding a poster created with ChatGPT. In the UK, Monz Islam, director of the Zenchai café in Fleet, announced on Instagram that he would not use generative AI for his posters after complaints from young customers about AI-generated works in other establishments, deeming a design created by a human, even with Canva, to be more "authentic."

In light of these uses and expectations, Anthropic warns against certain applications: Lina Ochman advises against using Claude for banking and legal functions, believing that the tool can achieve "95%" of the result, with a human expert remaining in the loop. She also reports that many leaders are concerned about accuracy, the risk of hacking, and struggle to know where to start, in a context of tight budgets and distinct concerns from a coding clientele.

A Network of Trainers and Workshops Committing to Five Sessions

Anthropic is establishing a network of workshops and preparing ambassadors for its tool. Last week, the first training sessions were held in San Francisco and New York to certify "Approved Claude SMB Trainers," with each participant required to lead five workshops for small and medium-sized enterprises by the end of the year. The company also plans to organize new workshops, highlight sessions led by partners, and implement a specific program, including events in these two cities.

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These initiatives extend a tour conducted in the spring by Lina Ochman, who reports gathering around 100 leaders per workshop during half-day sessions in Chicago, Baton Rouge, San Jose, and elsewhere. Among the participants, Kelsey Flood (Digital NEST) attended the San Francisco session last week and aims to organize AI awareness workshops for non-profit organizations, SMEs, and students, remaining neutral on the model used. She believes that the diversity of small businesses requires AI labs to build relationships and argues that the path to large-scale deployment lies in partnerships. Ochman expresses a desire to familiarize more small businesses with AI, even if some choose other tools first.

The Claude Product for SMEs Expands, with QuickBooks and New Plugins

The Claude tool for small businesses supports operational tasks such as financial reconciliation via a QuickBooks account. On Tuesday, Anthropic added plugins from Shopify, Stripe, and Zoom. Lina Ochman presents it as an "agentic starter kit." Launched in May, the initiative has reportedly recorded 900,000 installations of its plugin for small businesses. The group is simultaneously rolling out new features and planning a series of workshops to encourage adoption, while aiming to broaden the tool's reach.

Rising Adoption, Economic Weight of SMEs, and Competition from OpenAI

Small businesses play a significant role in the American economy, accounting for over 45% of private sector jobs and about 44% of GDP, according to the Small Business Administration. Their use of generative AI is increasing, rising from 23% in 2023 to 58% in 2025, according to a Chamber of Commerce survey. OpenAI has also launched a program dedicated to small businesses this year. In this context, Anthropic is preparing for an IPO.

Despite this momentum, leaders report customer criticism and express practical reservations. According to Lina Ochman, many are still limited to conversing with the tools without automating large parts of their operations, and they have concerns about accuracy, security, and getting started, with specific budget constraints.