OpenAI Partners With America's SBDC to Train About 150 Advisors and Help Small Businesses Use AI
Hi everyone, it's Shii-chan!
OpenAI News
openai.com
Today's news is about helping small businesses put AI to work!
What was announced?
According to OpenAI News, OpenAI is partnering with America's SBDC (Small Business Development Centers) to expand hands-on AI training and local support for small businesses. America's SBDC serves approximately 1 million entrepreneurs annually.
OpenAI also released a report on how small teams are using AI, "Small Businesses, Bigger Capabilities".
Why it matters
Having AI tools isn't enough for them to take root in daily work. This effort creates places to practice through local support organizations, so small businesses can use AI in their own operations.
What changes
- About 150 SBDC advisors will be trained through OpenAI Academy's Community Trainer Program
- Trained advisors will deliver hands-on workshops
- The goal is to reach at least 1,000 small businesses through in-person training, plus more through one-on-one guidance and resource development
Dive Deep
The program includes:
- Advisor credentialing
- Local workshops with three-hour hands-on training sessions
- Industry-specific practical guides covering topics like marketing, operations, and manufacturing
Key findings from the report:
- Approximately 4 million employees at small firms (under 500 people) used OpenAI tools during one week in September
- Nearly 20% of these users worked at businesses with fewer than 10 employees
- Finance, accounting, supply chain, legal compliance, and marketing made up disproportionately large shares of small-business use compared to larger enterprises
Examples include restaurant operators and training professionals using the tools for competitive analysis and outreach.
Wrap-up
- OpenAI is partnering with America's SBDC
- Goal: train about 150 advisors and reach 1,000+ small businesses in person
- The report says about 4 million small-firm employees used OpenAI tools in one week
A good read if you want to understand how small businesses are adopting AI!
